Lukashenko informs on when Russian troops will be withdrawn from Belarus
The President of Belarus touched upon this topic during his meeting with Ukrainian politician and statesman Alexander Moroz – commenting, in particular, on the issue of order restoration on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border
“I made a decision: we will hold exercises and, as a result of them, will determine in which areas we need to keep some armed forces,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
It was later decided to hold drills jointly with Russia since Belarus enjoys close co-operation with this country, including in the military sphere. Russia supported the initiative and joined in. As a result, the most modern military hardware takes part in the joint exercises, and the President commented on the reaction of their opponents, “Why are they crying that we are developing something here against Ukraine? This is a completely different background. They are deliriously crying now, “When will you withdraw the troops [Russian ones from Belarus]?” Listen, it is our business with Putin. In the near future, we will meet and decide jointly with the President of Russia (since there are only our troops here) on when, in what time and under what schedule the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will be withdrawn from here.”
The Head of State also drew attention to the actions of the United States and some European countries that are redeploying thousands of military troops to our borders. “A reasonable question arises: when will you withdraw them? They do not speak about this but put pressure on us. We will withdraw them when the President of Russia and I decide and when the exercises end. It is up to us to make the decision: this is our territory. This false story that ‘Lukashenko is ready to attack Ukraine’... Listen, I have never needed it, and I do not need it now. Meanwhile, what your authorities are doing against Belarus is beyond analysis: it defies comprehension!” he stated.
Aleksandr Lukashenko added that Ukraine had decided to refuse Belarusian potash fertilisers and is now addressing the United States with a request to help replace the required volumes. The Americans refused since they mostly buy potash from Canada. The President commented, “They addressed America to buy it! Just imagine the price: to extract, to process, to transport by rail, to unload in ports, to ship across thousands of kilometres, and again to tranship, to transport by rail and eventually deliver to farmers… It will be much more expensive. Why are they doing this in such a situation?”
The President added that Ukraine is assisted when it applies to Belarus for help. He then recalled a recent crisis situation in the neighbouring country related to a shortage of electricity. “I did not behave in a similar manner then. We supplied electricity beyond our limits, beyond the volumes they had asked for. Why is this happening? Why did they close the airspace for our planes – acting ahead of the whole planet? Well, we will fly around,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The Head of State asked a reasonable question: what if Belarus comes to an agreement with Russia, and Russia makes entry points for aircraft from Ukraine to its territory through our country? “You know, it is brainlessness... Well, in case with Lithuanians, it is clear: Lithuanian authorities have no brains for a long time. But why is Ukraine doing this? Why did they need to destroy everything?” he wondered.
The Belarusian leader recalled that he had made a lot of efforts to establish a dialogue between the Ukrainian and Russian leadership and resolve the conflict. “Poroshenko agreed as a result. But then the United States commanded against this, and he stepped aside from these matters. There would have been no war in Donbass already. Putin promised money to restore Donbass. People would have lived in peace. No. What kind of policy is this?” he added.
“You understand perfectly well that this is not the policy of Ukraine. This is someone else's policy," Alexander Moroz told the President.
“This is what I am talking about,” Aleksandr Lukashenko replied.
