Belarus Vows Not to Betray Russia; Lukashenko Thanks Trump

Dragon Media News Desk

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to a shared course with Russia. Agreeing with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s assessment at the Valdai International Discussion Club that the world has reached a turning point, Lukashenko said Belarusians would never allow the Russian people to be betrayed.

The Russian news agency TASS compiled Lukashenko’s key remarks.

A turning point in world history

“The Russian president was right when he said that the world has reached a turning point. Even we do not fully understand where we stand today or how profound this moment is in the history of world civilisation,” Lukashenko said.

Solidarity with Russia

Lukashenko said Belarus would never allow the Russian people to be betrayed and would continue to stand with them. “We will never allow the Russians to be stabbed in the back. That is our position, and we will remain committed to it. We will stand with our brotherly people,” he said. “We have never been traitors.”

He said that although he and Putin might have different views on aspects of the conflict in Ukraine, Minsk remained committed to its shared course with Moscow. Lukashenko said the two leaders regularly discussed the situation on the front lines and were both familiar with developments there.

“I told President Putin openly that I have my own understanding of certain aspects. But we will remain committed to our shared course. If the Russian leadership makes a decision, we will stand with you, even if our views of what is happening differ,” he said.

Speaking about Belarus’s role in the conflict in Ukraine, Lukashenko said he and Putin sometimes joked about which of them was the bigger “co-aggressor.”

Thanks to Trump

Lukashenko thanked US President Donald Trump for openly exposing what he described as the true nature of Western policy, particularly that of the United States.

“Everyone knows that Trump can say one thing in the morning and another in the evening. Even so, I am grateful to him for openly showing the policies of the West, above all those of the United States,” he said.

Lukashenko said Trump did not hide behind diplomatic language and had revealed the true face of Western policy and diplomacy. “People should draw their own conclusions by observing their policies,” he said.

Common market and regional integration

Lukashenko urged members of the Eurasian Economic Union to remain committed to the common market. “Do not lose what you have, and do not rush to walk away from it. Believe me, no one is waiting to welcome us elsewhere,” he said.

He said Belarus had preserved and developed industries and technologies dating from the Soviet era. Although the country’s economy was not the strongest, he said, its technologies were needed by many countries. Belarus had built capacity in mechanical engineering, construction materials, modern technology and agriculture, he added.

Lukashenko said Belarus planned to sell 10 billion US dollars’ worth of agricultural products this year, calling that a significant amount for the country.

He said Belarus had long prioritised integration within the post-Soviet region. “We set our course long ago. We have always moved in the same direction and have not changed our policy. We are committed to integration, first and foremost within the post-Soviet space,” he said.

Reflecting on his long political career, Lukashenko added: “I have come to believe that no one anywhere is waiting for us.”