Meeting with leaders of the communist parties of Russia and Ukraine, Gennady Zyuganov and Petro Symonenko

By Vasily Khmelevsky

President Alexander Lukashenko suggested to the West an acceptable option of regulating the situation in Ukraine, noted the Head of the Belarusian state during his meeting with leaders of the communist parties of Russia and Ukraine, Gennady Zyuganov and Petro Symonenko

“Unfortunately, nobody wants peace in Ukraine. Some time ago, I put forward a solution and the West agreed to it — those who spoke with me said that it was a viable solution,” noted Mr. Lukashenko. “I told them that this would be an acid test for them. If they wanted peace in Ukraine, they would agree to this plan. After all, it would not cost them anything.”

“And then I realised once again — and told my fellow Presidents about it — that we were simply being dragged into this bloodshed. The more we get involved, the better it is for them,” said Mr. Lukashenko.

In his turn, Gennady Zyuganov thanked the Belarusian Head of State for the opportunity to hold this meeting. “This meeting is of paramount importance for us, because the war is raging and it will have a devastating toll on all our countries,” he said.

The leader of the Russian Communist Party emphasised that the bonds between the people of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine are very strong. The three peoples fought shoulder to shoulder during the Great Patriotic War, including the liberation of Belarus, Ukraine, Crimea and Sevastopol, during the siege of Leningrad.

“It seemed to us that we had buried fascism forever, but it suddenly reappeared in the face of Bandera moods; Nazi manifestations including such barbarism which is happening in the south-east of Ukraine. We hope for your intermediary efforts, being aware how authoritative you are, including in many circles in Ukraine, and will promote the conciliation and solution of this problem to the utmost,” noted Mr. Zyuganov.

The leaders of the communist parties of Russia and Ukraine, Gennady Zyuganov and Petro Symonenko, supported the proposal to conduct, as soon as possible, a meeting, involving Presidents of Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine.

Petro Symonenko in particular, paid attention that Minsk has already acted as some kind of venue for solving the conflict in the east of Ukraine. Recently, it hosted a session of the trilateral contact group Ukraine-OSCE-Russia. “The President spoke that a ‘3+1’ meeting will be held soon. Alongside the Presidents of the Customs Union, the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko will be also invited to take part in the dialogue,” he said. Moreover, Mr. Symonenko hopes for a positive result at this meeting, and wishes the negotiation process to take place in Minsk.

After the meeting with the Belarusian leader and the conversation regarding the Ukrainian crisis, Mr. Symonenko noted the Heads of such level always make correct decisions. “Alexander Lukashenko has underlined many times that the world has changed very seriously, and today, dialogue is important, as well as the ability of leaders to hear and listen to their nation. The President has said, and the Communist Party of Ukraine supports this, that he is against separatist moods as a mechanism of satisfaction of political ambitions,” added Mr. Symonenko.

In his turn, Mr. Zyuganov paid attention that it’s essential to use the influence and authority of Mr. Lukashenko in regulating the Ukrainian crisis. “Alexander Lukashenko is a very authoritative politician in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, and he boasts his personal potential and people listen to him. In my opinion, in recent time, he has done much in order to stop these events,” said the leader of the Communist Party of Russia.