MINSK, 26 November (BelTA) – Ukraine's joining Western sanctions against Belarus is another dependent decision of that country. Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei made the statement after a joint meeting of the collegiums of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian one on 26 November, BelTA has learned.
Vladimir Makei said: “We cannot see it in any other way but as an absolutely unfriendly step and an attempt to blatantly interfere in Belarus' domestic affairs.”
Vladimir Makei stressed that Ukraine's joining Western sanctions against Belarus is another dependent decision of the neighboring country that demonstrates inconsistency of its policy. “Sincerely speaking, we view it as a mockery of common sense,” the official stressed.
Vladimir Makei noted that Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius had stated the other day that Europe was already tired of Ukraine. This is why Ukraine is trying to make itself look like a reference standard of democracy and the observation of human rights, the official pointed out. “Ukraine is no reference standard for us as far as human rights are concerned. We believe the country cannot act as a mentor or a teacher for Belarus in this situation. When they say that they care for the wellbeing of the country or the people of Belarus, we get surprised all the more. They've said they'd paused all the relations. They've said it is necessary to put pressure [on Belarus] in order to foster truth the way they understand democracy. Yet they join sanctions against Belarus. It means they help the people and the country via sanctions, via a tougher stance in interaction. It is an absolutely perverted logic and we are absolutely against such an approach,” Vladimir Makei stressed.
According to the minister, the Belarusian side has already worked out and is ready to enforce reciprocal measures. “Initially we also compiled a list of Ukrainian officials to enforce sanctions against. We will see how events will unfold later on. We will leave unanswered no action of Ukraine that is directed against the Belarusian state,” Vladimir Makei warned.
