Lukashenko says Belarus will not be dragged into Ukraine war, but will defend itself with Russia
MOSCOW, May 21 (Reuters) – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday rejected any idea that Belarus would be dragged into the Ukraine war, but said Russia and Belarus would jointly defend themselves in the event of an attack, Belarusian state news agency BELTA reported.
BELTA also quoted Lukashenko as saying he was ready to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who has repeatedly suggested that Belarus could become more involved in the conflict that has been going on for more than four years.
Lukashenko made the statement during joint nuclear exercises with Russia, which he observed via video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“As for (Zelenskiy’s) statements that Belarus will be drawn into war, as I just said, this will happen only in one case; if our territory is attacked,” Lukashenko said, as quoted by BELTA.
“Together we will defend our Motherland, where our two countries stand,” he added.
“If he wants to talk about something, discuss something or maybe do something else, we are of course open to that. I am ready to meet him anywhere, such as Ukraine, Belarus, and discuss the problems in our relations,” Zelenskiy said.
Belarus has allowed Russia to use its territory for Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Zelenskiy has warned for weeks of unusual activity and a possible cross-border attack.
Zelenskiy was discussing strengthening defenses on Thursday with officials in northern Ukraine near the Belarusian border.
In his nightly video speech, Zelenskiy said Russia was “willing to drag Belarus deeper into this war” and promised that Ukraine had “the capacity to strengthen our defense and work preemptively.”
Lukashenko and Belarus have long been subject to Western sanctions over alleged human rights violations and aiding Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
However, the United States has held several rounds of negotiations with Belarus that have led to the release of hundreds of detainees considered political prisoners in Western countries in exchange for some sanctions relief. US envoy John Coale said Lukashenko could visit the US soon.
In his comments, Lukashenko said that European leaders were unhappy with the prospect of improved relations between Washington and Minsk, which could prompt Zelenskiy to make his latest allegations.
“They see that we are in a special dialogue with the Americans,” he said, as quoted by BELTA. “And not everyone likes it. That’s why they’re poking Zelenskiy.”
(Reporting by Reuters, Writing by Felix Light; Editing by Vladimir Soldatkin, Ron Popeski and Alistair Bell)
