Belarus to purchase Russia’s cutting-edge weapons, Lukashenko says
Belarus plans to purchase cutting-edge weapons – which samples are taking part in the Allied Resolve 2022 exercises – from Russia
On meeting Russia’s Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu, at the Palace of Independence today, Aleksandr Lukashenko said, “We are holding exercises. We have agreed, including with you, that we would choose the time for these exercises in order not to interfere with the national economy and agriculture. We will organise major military exercises in the south of Belarus. We have discussed this issue twice with the President [of Russia], and have been perfecting our plans all the time. Thank you for organising these exercises. We need just a little time to deploy the troops from the Russian Federation. We have absolutely no problems here. Everything planned on our part has actually been implemented. I think we will start an active phase of the drill somewhere on February 10th, or so.”
The Head of State focused on a key goal of the exercises, “It is clear that, after your visit to Belarus, even more cries will be heard there [in the West] – but these are their problems. I want to announce our main goal at these exercises. Everyone has noticed that we are redeploying a lot of hardware from Russia to Belarus, including modern equipment. As we have agreed with you and the President of Russia, it is very important for us to ensure that our military people not simply see pictures of this hardware but also touch it and learn how to use this equipment jointly with fraternal Russians. This is very important for us since we plan to purchase all the hardware present here from you – this year, the next one, and so on. This is very important for us – and not only for us. This is critically important for our Union State due the behaviour of NATO and Ukraine that is striving to join it. Therefore, we want to learn.”
In this context, Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned the creation of joint training centres by Belarusian and Russian military. “I addressed you with a request to establish centres for cutting-edge weapons. Thank you for a positive response. We actually have three centres already. We are ready to open more centres to master the use of air defence systems and the cutting-edge weapons that are now being produced on the territory of Russia. Again, it is critically important for us to master and be able to use them,” he said.
The Head of State also commented on the second key goal of the upcoming exercises, “I am not keeping it secret. Unfortunately, a southern front is emerging now – in the southern direction. There is no getting away from it, and we are forced to strengthen the border with Ukraine: almost 1,500km. Therefore, these exercises and the assistance of you and your military specialists are important; they will help us identify the most painful points along this direction – in order to ensure defence on our southern borders at no extra cost. This is also important for the Russian Federation. Therefore, any talks about war, not war, and so on… If they attack – a response will follow. That is all the war. I have recently voiced this. We need nothing from others. We have our hands full mastering our own territories from Brest to Vladivostok.”
The President concluded, “Therefore, we are working over these two pragmatic goals. I have also asked the minister and specialists to take a closer look at this site jointly with Russians. This is our strategic task.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko also expressed special gratitude to Mr. Shoigu for providing support with the Russian Aerospace Forces. “After all, it has such a cooling effect on some of our so-called neighbours who are trying to ride before the hounds now. This is their right but they are aggravating the situation – pushing us to respond. There have been already several provocations, we could have responded with weapons then. They understand that – if we respond – Russia will get involved; we are tolerating it so far. Actually, they are endlessly provoking – so thank you very much for your constant support and response to our requests. We will return the favour,” the President noted.
Aleksandr Lukashenko thanked the guest for the recent peacekeeping mission in Kazakhstan as well, saying, “It was a brilliant operation. Time will pass, and it will be written down in textbooks.”
During the meeting, the President told the Russian Defence Minister that a delegation of the Republic of Tyva – where Mr. Shoigu was born – had recently visited Belarus. “I have met with your compatriots recently. The head of the region came. We discussed many issues, and also spoke about you. We are opening some joint production facilities there, including in the defence sphere. I have noticed that people there are ready to co-operate with Belarus. It is good,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The Head of State shared plans to visit this region in the future, “Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] has told me a lot of things [about this region]; he is also inviting me to visit it. He loves your lands and often mentions his trips there. Therefore, I really want to go there – to admire the beauty and uniqueness of local nature. I might as well travel to the Far East – following the Russian President’s suggestion. He says there is much to see there. For me, Kamchatka and Sakhalin are truly fabulous places. I have no idea of how they look in reality. He has been proposing me to go there for probably five years already. I will eventually find time – to visit these good, friendly lands.”
