MINSK, 15 September (BelTA) - In an interview with the Russian magazine Razvedchik Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko commented on the reputation of some world leaders and those who have this reputation at rock-bottom, BelTA has learned.
Among the topics addressed in the interview was the Ukrainian crisis. Mention was made, in particular, of the 2015 Minsk negotiations aimed at its settlement and the much later revelations by European participants that they had never intended to fulfill the reached agreements but were merely “buying time” for the Kiev regime. The Belarusian president was asked what further dialogue with such “partners” could look like.
“It was unexpected, but not surprising,” the head of state replied. "Unexpected, because from politicians of that caliber (they considered themselves part of the pantheon of world leaders, didn't they?) you’d still expect some degree of consistency, seriousness, and substance. On the other hand, the admission by the European leaders that they came to the negotiating table with tongue in cheek was not surprising. Nothing new. They are accustomed to lying; it is their style.”
On this matter, Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled how, after the victory over Nazi Germany, the collective West persecuted some Nazis, while hiding others (those who bought their lives with secrets) in the USA, Argentina, and Canada. One could also recall in this context how disarmament proceeded after the collapse of the USSR and in what proportions. “They have always lied to us,” the Belarusian leader stated, adding that there are numerous examples of this.
Among the topics addressed in the interview was the Ukrainian crisis. Mention was made, in particular, of the 2015 Minsk negotiations aimed at its settlement and the much later revelations by European participants that they had never intended to fulfill the reached agreements but were merely “buying time” for the Kiev regime. The Belarusian president was asked what further dialogue with such “partners” could look like.
“It was unexpected, but not surprising,” the head of state replied. "Unexpected, because from politicians of that caliber (they considered themselves part of the pantheon of world leaders, didn't they?) you’d still expect some degree of consistency, seriousness, and substance. On the other hand, the admission by the European leaders that they came to the negotiating table with tongue in cheek was not surprising. Nothing new. They are accustomed to lying; it is their style.”
On this matter, Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled how, after the victory over Nazi Germany, the collective West persecuted some Nazis, while hiding others (those who bought their lives with secrets) in the USA, Argentina, and Canada. One could also recall in this context how disarmament proceeded after the collapse of the USSR and in what proportions. “They have always lied to us,” the Belarusian leader stated, adding that there are numerous examples of this.
"Back in 2015, we were preparing for the Minsk negotiations sincerely. We thought of the West as a responsible partner. Otherwise, what is the point of entering such high-level negotiations?” the president continued on the topic of the Normandy Format talks. “Indeed, we hoped that the agreements signed in Minsk would lay a solid foundation for long-term stabilization. Everyone worked genuinely. Seventeen hours of grueling negotiations, without sleep, with emotional disputes, but with a desire to stop the bloodshed and restore peace.” At the same time, as per their own admissions, Angela Merkel and François Hollande, who at the time represented Germany and France, came to lull the other party to the negotiations into a false sense of security, to buy time to build up strength, and to ply the Ukrainian fire with fresh fuel.
Therefore, in Aleksandr Lukashenko's view, the current reluctance of U.S. President Donald Trump to involve Europeans in the negotiations appears logical and justified. “Why should he engage with politicians whose reputation is at rock-bottom? He needs both partners and opponents with whom he can speak on equal terms. And speaking on equal terms means engaging with other leaders. These are the countries of the SCO and BRICS. A serious counterweight to the old structures is being formed. This momentum cannot be stopped. New centers of power are gaining political weight. They will have to be reckoned with," the head of state emphasized.
In this regard, the head of state drew attention to the global initiative expressed by President Xi Jinping at the SCO summit in China - governance based on equality and justice. “Xi proposes sovereign equality, the primacy of international law, multilateralism. This is precisely what is needed to unravel the tangled knot of accumulated problems on the international agenda," Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed. “In his view, this will help restore trust that was lost due to the European Union's adventurism. Given the circumstances that have emerged following the admissions of its leaders, such trust in EU countries no longer exists. “I do not know how one can conduct business with them in principle,” the Belarusian leader added.
Follow us on:
