MINSK, 12 April (BelTA) - Ukraine has no place in the European Union; it will prosper only within our space, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko told the media during the national subbotnik (clean-up day) on 12 April, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that a large number of officials are involved in the negotiations for Ukraine's accession to the EU. Large sums of money - millions of dollars - are allocated for this. This is why many people are eager to join this "creative group".
"This is about millions of dollars. And they are engaged in something that may never happen. Ukraine is unlikely to join the European Union, but they keep dividing these grants," the head of state remarked.
The president pointed out that the European Union is a unified political and economic platform. "Why were Slovakia and Hungary against it? Because they realized they are losing their identity, losing their face. And then their economy will be destroyed and they will not be able to produce more than before," Aleksandr Lukashenko explained. "Why is Ukraine trying to join the EU? This is a whim of an unseasoned person. Vladimir Zelensky is a good man, but unseasoned. He should admit this. If you don't understand something, ask someone who is more experienced and draw the appropriate conclusions."
The head of state wondered where Ukraine would sell its products if it joined the European Union, as there is already an abundance of such products in other EU countries. This is a clear issue, he said.
"Look. Everyone pushed Ukraine into the war against Russia. But when Ukraine just wanted to transport its grain through the European Union, load it into grain carriers in Poland and deliver it to poor Africa, where it was needed, the EU said 'No, we won't let you do that'," Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled. "Before joining the EU, Ukraine should think about why it needs it. Will it contribute to the development of its economy and improve the lives of its people? Ukraine’s leadership doesn't think about this. They consider Russia so-and-so, and if it is one of the founders of the EAEU, they will never join it! It doesn't matter where to go: into a manure pit, sludge, or wherever: the main thing is just to get away from Russia. But this is not politics. Politics should be built based on the needs of your own people."
"That's why Ukraine has no place in the European Union. The markets have long been divided. It will prosper only within our space," the Belarusian leader stated.
The president noted that at one time, Ukraine together with Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan began developing the concept of Eurasian cooperation. However, according to Aleksandr Lukashenko, Ukraine’s leadership was later "fed a nationalist ideology", which ultimately led to the war.
"The war needs to be stopped. Many people have died, thousands of them. It is bad, it is hard to go through this. But we have survived a worse war. But if under the current difficult conditions Ukraine’s leadership collapses its economy, then the country will cease to exist. Before rushing to join the EU, they need to think whether they are needed there. Entering the European Union will destroy the country’s industry, agriculture and all the things Ukraine was so proud of," the head of state emphasized.
"When I was a young man, I visited Ukraine a couple of times, drove along the Leningrad-Odessa highway. The beauty and people of Ukraine impressed me greatly. Later, during my military service, I realized that this country was a gem of the Soviet Union. Everything was destroyed there. Ukrainians are hardworking people. So why do they need to join the European Union? Ukraine is a huge country, comparable in size to France. A rich country. So it should have developed on its own foundation," Aleksandr Lukashenko believes. "Is it truly your own path of development if you are constantly told what to develop and what not to? You will have to agree on everything."
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