Minsk suggested Kiev to contact the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense to prevent the launch of a special operation in the Donbass, but Ukraine did not do this. This was stated by the President of Belarus during a meeting with the power bloc. At present, according to Alexander Lukashenko, the republic is taking the necessary measures to ensure the security of the rear of Russian troops.
The situation along the perimeter of the country has changed – the borders in the south are closed, all checkpoints have suspended work. 5 battalion-tactical groups were withdrawn there, border troops – in an enhanced mode. At the table – the head of the State Border Committee, the Minister of Defense, the State Secretary of the Security Council, the head of the KGB. The meeting at the Palace of Independence became known in the morning, but it was planned from the night. When it’s about 5 am Vladimir Putin informed the Belarusian colleague about the development of the situation with the aim, as Lukashenka quoted, “to stop the genocide of the people in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions.” There were two telephone conversations at night – the Belarusian defense minister, on behalf of the president, called the Ukrainian one.
“They were told point by point what needs to be done. They didn’t do it, which means they wanted this war. And now let them figure out who pushed them to this, although it’s easy to figure it out. For us, the main thing is that we won’t make excuses, whether we participate or not, our troops are not there, but if Belarus or Russia needs them, they will,” Lukashenka assured.
The official response to such videos: CNN publishes footage of tanks crossing the border from Belarus. There are Russian troops in the country, they remained after the joint exercises at the request of Alexander Lukashenko. The President of Russia agreed: to protect the borders of the Union State. The Belarusian General Staff has developed an action plan. Taking action in response to NATO’s unprecedented build-up of capabilities in Poland and the Baltics is the first task for the military.
“We need to close it so that we don’t get a knife in the back. But we have a joint grouping, part of it is on the western borders of the Russian Federation, I will ask you not to use part of this SKL grouping. Any attack, at least one step across the border into the territory of Belarus will be mean that they are attacking Russia,” Lukashenka said.
The Belarusian Foreign Ministry announced that it was evacuating embassy employees with their families from Ukraine. The ambassador and the consular service still remain to interact with Kiev. Diplomats recommend Belarusian citizens to leave Ukraine.
The issue of recognizing the LPR and DPR in Belarus is on the agenda: this is already from the statements of Alexander Lukashenko to journalists after the meeting. The cessation of military actions against the republics, the prevention of Ukraine’s entry into NATO and the demilitarization of the country – according to the Belarusian president – these are the conditions for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Lukashenka offered to hold them in Minsk.