MINSK, 26 September (BelTA) – When asked whether Russia will return Crimea to Ukraine Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said that he does not expect it to happen in the foreseeable future, BelTA has learned.
When asked a direct question by a Ukrainian journalist, the head of state said: "I do not think so. I believe that, as the president [of Russia] says, this issue is closed today and for good. This is what cautious and reserved Lavrov says. So does the entire leadership. There is a consensus in the Russian society on this issue. There is no other issue where the Russian government has such support of the Russians as on Crimea.”
“There is no force that can do it when Russia is against it," the head of state said about the likelihood of a forceful or other return of Crimea. “This is the territory of Russia, as they think of it. I do not even see any action in this direction. Maybe it can happen sometime when waters calm down, when politics changes, when a new generation of Russians comes to power. Maybe then,” he said.
“Even if people who condemn the annexation of Crimea today will come to power in Russia, they will not return it to Ukraine. Believe me, I know what I am talking about. I do not know what circumstances should be for Russia to give up Crimea on its own volition," Aleksandr Lukashenko added.
The head of state noted that the situations such as the annexation of Crimea would not have been possible if Belarus and Ukraine had not given up nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In addition, both sides made many mistakes in the conflict over Crimea.
