Aleksandr Lukashenko: ‘It’s time to show that we can do a lot’

President of Belarus was interviewed by the Mir TV and Radio Company’s Chairman, Radik Batyrshin

During the conversation, the Head of State answered more than a dozen and a half questions on a wide range of topics. These included interstate co-operation in such associations as the CIS, EEC and BRICS, the development of the Belarusian economy, improving the well-being of citizens and ensuring security in the region. Special attention was paid to the significance of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and the need to preserve historical memory.

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Belarusian economy will progress

In the interview, Aleksandr Lukashenko paid special attention to the issue of the Belarusian economic development.
In 2024, the Belarusian economy’s growth made about four percent. Answering the question whether it will be possible to maintain such dynamics this year, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted, “Well, growth rates are expected to be close to this figure.” At the same time, he emphasised that it is quite difficult to constantly increase the pace against the current high levels, “The base used to count percentages is all time growing.” 
”It is easier to grow against zero than against 90 percent, therefore, neither we nor Russia can naturally have 4.5 or 5 percent [of economic growth] permanently,” the President stressed. “Actually, there is no trouble in this, since one or two percentage points — that we will grow in 2027-2030 — will be even more significant than today’s three, four or five points. Therefore, there is no reason to assert that we will grow by five percent all the time.” 
At the same time, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that the economic growth in Belarus was greater than in Germany in 2024. “We can voice this, as we did not have a zero level. We had a very high economic base, and it is really very difficult for us to add another four percent,” the Head of State noted. 
According to the President, Belarusians ‘should thank’ the Western companies that left Belarus and Russia: their move turned out to be beneficial for domestic manufacturers. “Meeting people’s needs is a very important sphere, but Belarus has everything available to provide people [with what they need],” the Head of State stressed.
Belarusian high-tech enterprises, such as INTEGRAL, have also gained an advantage. “Only Belarus has preserved the basics of microelectronics, and our products enjoy demand in our main market, and not only in the Russian market,” the President continued. 
Aleksandr Lukashenko added, “Differently speaking, we have preserved the school and our opportunities, and this has given us a solid increase — including in the economy, primarily due to the Russian market. We produce a lot for the sector of defence weapons, space, and nuclear energy, and we supply our high-tech products to Russia’s technological industries.”

EAEU members need to preserve market

When asked about the importance of the existence of such an association as the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Belarusian leader pointed out that there is much to talk about, but he will name one of the most important factors. “We all still speak the same language,” he said. “This is our main Russian language, which we all know. And that’s a great thing. We don’t need interpreters. Peasants, workers, intelligentsia can communicate with each other, not to mention the leadership of the countries. This is great.”
In addition, there are many similarities in the culture of the peoples of the EAEU states, who interact quietly with each other. “Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Orthodox Christians live here. What, do we look at each other like animals? No, we have found understanding. Yes, there are certain frictions, there always will be. But we are united. We celebrate Easter, as well as Nowruz all together: Muslims, Christians, Jews,” the Belarusian leader said.
On the basis of all these interrelationships, Aleksandr Lukashenko believes it is necessary to build and develop closer trade-economic co-operation. “It is a great thing that we have preserved this unity,” the President emphasised. “We need it to preserve our market. We need to master our market, we need to develop and, roughly speaking, conquer other markets, liaising with other countries instead of competing here without benefit. We need to unite. And we can do this within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, where we are currently chairing [Belarus is holding the EAEU presidency]. And we can do something within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States, where we still have a free trade zone.”

Trump’s trade war

One of the questions posed to the Belarusian leader concerned the trade war that has broken out in the global market due to the decision of US President Donald Trump to significantly increase duties for a number of countries.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he is alarmed by the US President’s statements. “Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] and I have been talking on this issue, I’m also expressing my point of view to him and trying to somehow bring him to my side in this regard, that we need to wait and see [Trump’s actions and what happens in the US],” the Belarusian leader noted.
“Are you convinced that what Donald said would happen? He already said yesterday that he is willing to negotiate with China or somebody else to make a deal on tariffs. So they’re willing to back down as well,” the President pointed out. “Obviously, Donald Trump thought about it, looked at it and decided that it was a bit harsh and that perhaps it is first necessary to calculate everything and then back down somewhere. After all, from the economic point of view, Trump’s decision looks illogical,” Aleksandr Lukashenko explained. “But, on the other hand, we should wait and see what will come out of it.”
The US economy is, of course, one of the world’s leading economies and accounts for a significant share of global GDP. However, Aleksandr Lukashenko is convinced that this does not guarantee its sustainability in the face of increased import tariffs for so many countries.
Trump’s list includes countries that account for a significant proportion of global GDP. “They also declared war on 75 percent of the countries in terms of GDP: Japan, the European Union, etc., claiming that the US can handle itself. Maybe they can cope today, producing their goods to support 300 million people and printing US Dollars. And what will happen tomorrow?” the Head of State asked.
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, he calmly observes what is happening. “Why should we and Russia be worried? So many duties and sanctions have already been imposed against us that there is nowhere else to go. And we have resisted, we have survived,” the President stressed. 

Details of upcoming Zapad-2025 exercise

The President of Belarus revealed the details of the upcoming Zapad-2025 exercise.
“I will defend my people. And I know what it was like in 1941: we were appeasing the Germans all the time. We were trying to ‘please’ them somehow. Their planes flew into our airspace, they behaved rudely, and we gathered all the aircraft from the airports in one place and started to repair something there. We didn’t even deploy an army, we just tried to appease them. And what happened? Putin is right: they lied to us, they cheated us and so on. That’s enough. We must always be ready,” the President stressed.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said that he had recently discussed with Vladimir Putin the topic of the upcoming Belarusian-Russian Zapad-2025 military drills — to be held in mid-September.
“We have our common Fatherland stretching from Brest to Vladivostok. But in this Fatherland we have absolutely independent states: sovereign Belarus and the Russian Federation. There are also lands that have decent independence, such as the Ufa and Kazan lands — Tatarstan and Bashkortostan,” the Head of State added.
Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded how Belarus’ western neighbours, Poland and the Baltic States, are escalating the situation. The situation is also aggravated in the south, on the border with Ukraine.
“We do not just have to take this into account, we reckon with it. That is why we are holding the exercise designed to strengthen our defence capabilities in connection with such behaviour of our Western neighbours,” the President said.

The Mir Interstate Television and Radio Company was established by the decision of the CIS heads of state on October 9th, 1992 in order to preserve a common information space and promote international exchange of information in the CIS. The organisation’s national branches and representative offices operate in nine countries.

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by