MINSK, 2 December (BelTA) – The anti-Belarus policy fits the general context of the struggle against Russia, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin in Minsk on 2 December, BelTA has learned.
"We must preserve the civilization that existed in our lands since ancient times. If we don't, this civilization will perish. The West may moan and cry about us setting such goals, but this is what we must do," the head of state emphasized.
Aleksandr Lukashenko explained that by the shared civilization he means Belarus and Russia where people of different ethnicities have co-existed peacefully. "This is the essence of our civilization. We have never oppressed anyone and will never do, unlike them," the president said. In his opinion, Ukraine is part of this civilization, too. The Belarusian leader expressed confidence that the Ukrainian people "will have their say and reverse the situation" back to how it always was.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that what the external destructive forces are doing today is disgusting and dirty. "We see it. They failed to destroy Belarus last year. So they have opted for a slow strangulation plan. It is clear that this effort fits the general context of the struggle against the Russian Federation, against those friends who stand by Russia and Belarus today," the head of state said.
"We have a strong position in this regard. We must not just survive. We must develop, move forward, and show them that we can do without them. We have everything for that. I am sure that the State Duma and you as a leader share this position," the president said.
"So don't worry about Belarus. We are holding up," the Belarusian leader continued. He noted that in Russia they are now comparing Belarus in this global confrontation to the Brest Fortress. "This is a good comparison. But we will no longer be the Brest Fortress, we will not let anyone besiege us. If this message is still unclear, we will explain it, and that is what we are doing together with Russians," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
