Lukashenko confirmed readiness to develop co-operation with DPR, Ukraine on the same principles
During today’s meeting with Denis Pushilin, the Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko declared our country’s readiness to further develop co-operation with this region
“We have been liaising for a long time. As far as Belarus is concerned, we have always co-operated with the Donetsk Region as part of Ukraine. Of course, in these difficult times, we did not abandon this interaction, and we are ready to continue it nowadays. Moreover, there are certain achievements. The database has been created. We are ready to get away from any intermediaries. I was even surprised that we still have them. We are ready to liaise directly with you,” the Head of State underlined.
Responding to reproaches and criticism from the outside that Belarus allegedly offends Ukraine by liaising with the DPR, Aleksandr Lukashenko said, “We don’t offend anyone. We are ready to co-operate with Ukraine on the same principles as with the Donetsk People’s Republic. We take your children here for treatment and recuperation. They are very happy. However, I was ‘dragged into court’ because it turns out that we are ‘stealing’ your children. I suggested both Ukraine and the US to come here and to find at least one stolen child. These are not our principles, so I once again confirm that we will liaise with you, absolutely without violating any international norms of our relations. We are working for the benefit of the people. If you have problems with construction, we will support and help you. If you have problems with curing someone or getting education, we are ready to liaise with you. We are absolutely ready to co-operate with Ukraine on such principles. Therefore, there is no need to put pressure on us in this regard. We are peaceful people. Peace is the core of our friendship and co-operation. If you see something in Belarus that you will need to restore and develop your region, you can count on us.”
On behalf of all residents of the DPR and himself, Denis Pushilin thanked the President of Belarus for all-round assistance, primarily humanitarian aid.
“We have a lot of common ground: shared history and views for further development. This, of course, envisages only a strong, prosperous society based on justice. Our task is to build such conditions so that it would not be a shame to pass them on to the next generations.”
