Lukashenko: Belarus has been doing its utmost to prevent war between Ukraine, Russia

MINSK, 5 May (BelTA) – Belarus has been doing everything to prevent a war between Ukraine and Russia, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in an interview with AP, BelTA has learned.

"We are resolutely against wars. We have been doing everything to prevent this war," Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

The president noted that it was thanks to Belarus that the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia were launched. "I know Russia's position. I know what Russia offers to Ukraine. But why Ukraine, on the territory of which there is actually a war, combat operations, people are dying, is not interested in these negotiations, is another question. You need to look to Washington for the answer to this question," the head of state said.

At the same time, Aleksandr Lukashenko said that he did not think that the Russian special operation "would take that long.” “But I'm not so immersed in this issue to say whether it has been going according to the plan as the Russians say, or how I feel it. I emphasize this once again: my feeling is that this operation is taking too long," the Belarusian leader said.

As BelTA has reported earlier, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko gave an interview to the Associated Press, one of the world's largest news agencies, on 5 May. The interviewer is Vice President of the Associated Press Ian Phillips, who has been working for the agency since 1994. The Associated Press unites about 7,000 newspaper publishers, radio and television stations and operates 248 news bureaus in 99 countries. Its paid content subscribers include more than 10,000 media outlets in 120 countries.

Lukashenko: Belarus is not interested in unleashing a war in the West

“We do not threaten anyone and are not going to. We will not do it. Moreover, we cannot even do it: we know who is opposing us. Therefore, unleashing some kind of conflict, some kind of war in the West is absolutely not in the interests of the Belarusian state. Therefore, the West can sleep peacefully,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

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Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “It is unlikely that he [Vladimir Putin] wants a global clash with NATO.” The president said: “Use it and do everything for it not to happen.”

Lukashenko: Use of nuclear weapons is absolutely unacceptable

The journalist asked Aleksandr Lukashenko's opinion on the hypothetical use of nuclear weapons in the event of the prolongation of the hostilities in Ukraine and whether he considers it acceptable at all, whether this is some kind of red line in this case.

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“If Joe Biden says: “Guys, everyone, you have done enough fighting, you should stop it now, nobody needs this war, it is in no one's interest”, then everything will stop within a week.”

Lukashenko: The USA wants to bog Russia down in Ukraine war

“We see it happening now: the United States of America wants to seize the moment, band together with its allies and bog Russia down in the war in Ukraine. This is their goal: to deal with Russia, then with China,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.

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