Belarus wants to see a strong Ukraine, Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Belarus, Mr. Mikhail Yezhel

‘We want to see a strong Ukraine’

Belarus wants to see a strong Ukraine, Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Belarus, Mr. Mikhail Yezhel
By Veniamin Mishin

Mikhail YezhelBelarus wants to see a strong Ukraine, Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Belarus, Mr. Mikhail Yezhel


The President noted that this meeting is symbolic in many ways. “This is natural, because I’ve made numerous statements about Ukraine and our involvement in the processes that are going on. Maybe, there is nothing that Ukraine, its people and authorities, can blame me for. We tried to stick to a careful and well-balanced position, simultaneously saying that our government and I care about Ukraine,” noted the Belarusian leader.

Mr. Lukashenko wished that the events, which are still taking place in Ukraine and are having a negative effect, ended as soon as possible. “We wish Ukraine developed as a single state, we wish it were our dear Ukraine. We have never imagined that Ukraine might take a hostile position towards Belarus. I openly spoke my mind on the issues that bother us, including the issues related to NATO.”

“Ukraine should be Ukraine. This is a country of 45 million, a friendly nation to us. It’s a self-sufficient country. If we help it, instead of meddling, this will be a very influential country. Maybe, somebody does not want the country to be strong and influential. However, this is not my position or the position of the Belarusian people. We want to see a strong Ukraine, with which we can co-operate and trade, as we’ve done over the past years,” emphasised the Belarusian President.

Mr. Lukashenko reminded the diplomat about his meeting with Ukraine’s Acting President, Alexander Turchinov, “I’ve answered many of his confidential questions and concerns unambiguously, in a friendly way. I honour the arrangements reached with the Ukrainian authorities at the Pripyat,” added Mr. Lukashenko. “If you need any help (except for mediating, because I cannot stand it), I’m ready to lend a hand to Ukraine at any time, because I take the developments in Ukraine close to my heart.”

In his turn, Mikhail Yezhel thanked the Belarusian Head of State for his very consistent and honest position. “In this situation, every kind word is a good support for Ukraine,” he said.

The Ukrainian diplomat noted that five or six points voiced by the Belarusian President in his interview with the Ukrainian TV show Shuster Live were 100 percent supported by the viewers, because this position echoes the sentiments of the Ukrainian people in general. “It rarely happens that politicians get 100 percent support. This speaks volumes. We felt Belarus’ attitude,” noted the Ambassador.
Заметили ошибку? Пожалуйста, выделите её и нажмите Ctrl+Enter