Lukashenko: Putin never raised issue of Belarus sending its troops to Ukraine
Russia has never raised the issue of sending Belarus’ military troops to Ukraine – as noted by Head of State Aleksandr Lukashenko in an interview with BBC journalist Steve Rosenberg
Aleksandr Lukashenko commented on the statements of the Ukrainian and South Korean authorities about North Korea’s alleged participation in the special military operation.
“Rubbish. This would be an escalation of the military conflict. Knowing his character, I can assure you that Putin would never try to persuade another country to involve its army in Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, especially, as the military say, on the contact line. I do not believe that. The North Koreans said it is ‘coffee cup reading’. There have never been any such conversations or negotiations. I speak for Putin, knowing his him well. Russia has enough population to carry out military action.”
“Even if we were involved into the war this would be a path to escalation. Why? Because you, the Anglo-Saxons, would immediately say that another country, an allied country, got involved in the conflict, so NATO has the right to help Ukraine. So NATO troops would be deployed Ukraine. Is this option possible? Yes. Putin is also considering this option, whether he needs it or not. You are talking about North Korea... Where is Korea and where is Belarus? Putin has never asked me to get involved in this conflict,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
He noted that Russia had never asked Belarus to provide its troops for the special military operation in Ukraine.
“Neither he, nor Shoigu [former Defence Minister of Russia], nor the current Defence Minister Belousov has ever raised that question,” stressed the Belarusian leader.
Responding to the BBC journalist’s assertion that Aleksandr Lukashenko allegedly gave Russia the opportunity to use Belarusian territory in 2022 to attack Ukraine, the Head of State noted, “How do you know? How do you know that I have agreed to use Belarusian territory? How was it used? We had drills involving several thousand Russian troops. These troops at the maneuvers in Belarus were mainly from Russia’s Eastern District. Putin began to withdraw them from the south of Belarus along this road, past the border with Ukraine. At one point, he redirected some of the troops to Kiev (I am convinced he was provoked by you). Why did this happen? Ask Zelenskyy. Therefore, do not blame me for what I did or did not do. It is up to Putin where to withdraw his troops. Through Kiev. Or he could have withdrawn them through Minsk, warning me and asking for permission, as troops can only move around the territory with my permission. But he moved to Gomel, so ask Zelenskyy why they were turned south to Kiev.”
