Attempts to Drag Belarus Into War Are Unacceptable: Lavrov
Minsk — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Western countries of trying to use the Kiev regime against Russia and Belarus.
Answering a media question in Minsk on June 15, Lavrov said Belarus is Russia’s closest ally and claimed that the West is also trying to use the Ukrainian leadership against Belarus.
Lavrov accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of trying to provoke the West by repeatedly claiming that Belarus is preparing to attack Ukraine. According to him, Zelensky appears to feel a sense of complete impunity and is trying to use the moment to show how “tough” he is.
Lavrov also said Zelensky’s goals and assessments appear to vary depending on his state of mind. He stressed that Russia’s position is clear, noting that Belarus is Russia’s ally but is not taking part in the war.
“Belarus is our ally, but Belarus is not taking part in the war,” Lavrov said.
He added that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has already made his position clear on this matter. According to Lavrov, Lukashenko has warned that if anyone tries to drag Belarus into the war, they will not like the consequences.
Russia and Belarus have deepened coordination in security, diplomacy, the economy and Union State integration in recent years. Against the backdrop of the Ukraine crisis, Western sanctions and NATO’s increased activity in Eastern Europe, Moscow and Minsk have repeatedly claimed that collective pressure is being exerted against them.
Lavrov’s remarks are being viewed as an attempt to present Russia–Belarus relations in strategic terms. While reiterating that Belarus is not directly participating in the war, he indicated that attempts by external forces to draw Minsk into the conflict could have serious consequences.
The statement came during Lavrov’s visit to Belarus. During the visit, he met President Lukashenko and held talks with Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov on bilateral and regional issues.
Russia has consistently described its relations with Belarus as a strategic alliance and security partnership. Lavrov’s latest remarks once again clarified Moscow’s position on Belarus’s role in the Ukraine crisis.
