Lukashenka reminded “those who sharpen their bayonets” in the West that Belarusians “have never been traitors” and never will be. “And, as you plan, you will not be able to shoot the Russians in the back through Belarus. Therefore, I repeat once again: you need to calm down, take your head in your hands and make the right decision in the interests of the peoples, ”he concluded, adding that no one wants to die in the war.
The fact that neither Belarus nor Russia needs a war, Lukashenka has already stated after negotiations with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow. “We do not want war, but if someone is itching, the answer will be completely asymmetrical,” he said.
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A new aggravation of the situation around Ukraine. The main thing
The day before, Putin, in an address to the Russians, announced his decision to recognize the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. According to him, the situation in the Donbass “has again acquired a critical, acute character.” Kiev does not want to comply with the Minsk agreements, and the West cannot force it. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry, commenting on Moscow’s actions, said that Minsk “with respect and understanding” reacted to the decision to recognize the DPR and LPR. This step
has a “serious human, humanitarian dimension”, given the number of Russians living in the republics and “experiencing hardships” for almost eight years, the Foreign Ministry noted.
The situation in Donbass escalated at the end of last week. The DPR and LPR announced the evacuation of the population to Russia and general mobilization, claiming that Kiev was preparing for an offensive.
On February 22, the Federation Council allowed the President to use the armed forces in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. According to the speaker of the upper house of parliament, Valentina Matvienko, this decision is aimed at establishing peace in the Donbass.
Later, Putin, commenting on the permission given by the Federation Council, indicated that Russia has not yet sent troops to the Donbass, this will depend on the current situation in the region.