MOSCOW, 14 March (BelTA) – Given various political processes going in the world, we should firmly follow our interests and should not let them trick us again, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he addressed the Federation Council during his official visit to the Russian Federation on 14 March, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko touched on the process of NATO expansion, which started back in the 1990s. Then he and the first Russia President Boris Yeltsin discussed these advancements, were very angry about them but could do nothing. “As the incumbent president of Russia says, they deceived us,” the head of state said.
“It's still very relevant. Nowadays, people are very worried how things will fare with Americans, Ukrainians, others... This word ‘deceit’ is no longer in my vocabulary. I say: no one will fool us anymore. Because we know what we want. We will firmly stand our ground, as we agreed with the Russian president once again yesterday. Reasonably. We are for peace, we are against war. But we must defend our interests,” the Belarusian leader said.
He referred to the various statements by U.S. President Donald Trump. “In no way I am criticizing him, as some people say after our meetings yesterday. By no means. Both Russia and Belarus wanted him to win the election,” the Belarusian leader said.
With new people in power, he said, there’s a chance at an agreement which was not possible with the previous administration in the United States. “Well, the unbelievable has happened. Donald Trump plowed through the United States like a bulldozer, and the unbelievable happened. This incredible man won. But for the time being we have seen a bunch of conflicting statements, promises, pressure on one side or the other... You know things are still a mess,” the president said. “I made my point to reporters yesterday that the United States doesn't have a plan for Ukraine yet. Indeed, Donald Trump wants to stop the war. We appreciate this. If he's sincerely concerned about people dying… We need to stop it. We appreciate this. We want this too. But at the same time, we must hold our ground. We will not let them knock us off track or, God forbid, deceive or trick us again. This will not happen.”
“It's still very relevant. Nowadays, people are very worried how things will fare with Americans, Ukrainians, others... This word ‘deceit’ is no longer in my vocabulary. I say: no one will fool us anymore. Because we know what we want. We will firmly stand our ground, as we agreed with the Russian president once again yesterday. Reasonably. We are for peace, we are against war. But we must defend our interests,” the Belarusian leader said.
He referred to the various statements by U.S. President Donald Trump. “In no way I am criticizing him, as some people say after our meetings yesterday. By no means. Both Russia and Belarus wanted him to win the election,” the Belarusian leader said.
With new people in power, he said, there’s a chance at an agreement which was not possible with the previous administration in the United States. “Well, the unbelievable has happened. Donald Trump plowed through the United States like a bulldozer, and the unbelievable happened. This incredible man won. But for the time being we have seen a bunch of conflicting statements, promises, pressure on one side or the other... You know things are still a mess,” the president said. “I made my point to reporters yesterday that the United States doesn't have a plan for Ukraine yet. Indeed, Donald Trump wants to stop the war. We appreciate this. If he's sincerely concerned about people dying… We need to stop it. We appreciate this. We want this too. But at the same time, we must hold our ground. We will not let them knock us off track or, God forbid, deceive or trick us again. This will not happen.”
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