Lukashenko discussed Belarus’ security guarantees with Shoigu in Minsk in development of his agreements with Putin

The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, has held a meeting in Minsk with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, who arrived in the Belarusian capital following the recent agreements between the heads of state, BelTA reports

photo: www.belta.by

“Bidding farewell after the last talks with Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin], we agreed that you and the experts would come to Belarus and we would sit down with you and discuss security issues in Belarus. You know, I already raised this issue during the Supreme State Council meeting. But before that, we discussed this issue with Vladimir Putin,” the President said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that Western countries do not fulfil the agreements on security guarantees that were given under the Budapest Memorandum in exchange for the withdrawal of nuclear weapons. “Somewhere after 1994, the famous Budapest Memorandum, where all Western powers and Russia swore to provide full security to Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belarus. Of course, you know that Western states trampled on all these treaties, agreements and statements, and there’s no security. Economic security was also meant by these agreements. Well, what kind of economic security if they impose sanctions against us and Russia?!” the Belarusian leader noted. “Therefore, I raised this issue during the talks with the President of Russia. He absolutely supported me in all area and said that we need to revise all our treaties and agreements. Belarus and Russia should see what normative legal act of an interstate nature should be adopted now in order to ensure the complete security of Belarus.”

“In general, it sounded at the talks in such a way that in case of aggression against Belarus, the Russian Federation will protect Belarus as its own territory. These are the kind of security [guarantees] we need,” the President of Belarus underlined.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed once again that the West has forgotten about its obligations. “What kind of security guarantees can America give us? None, except for spurring aggression against us, as we see now. We need full security guarantees from our fraternal Russia. And so Putin and I, when bidding farewell, touched on this issue again and agreed, that you and the experts would arrive today and we would seriously discuss this issue in the context of the situation that is currently developing around us, including the special military operation.

Therefore, I thank you for coming to us. I think today we will discuss all the issues that relate to our bilateral relations and the situation in Belarus and Russia,” the Head of State said.

Another topic that Aleksandr Lukashenko discussed with Sergei Shoigu concerns combat training and co-ordination of the Union State joint group, which also includes Russian military personnel stationed on the territory of Belarus. “I’m grateful to you that, despite all the difficulties, you are keeping several thousand Russian servicemen here. We have joined this process to the necessary extent, and we are training these guys together with your officers, we are conducting combat co-ordination. We are training as it should be because we should not relax. You see that the Poles and Lithuanians have begun to move in our direction. Therefore, this is such a good help and support for the Belarusian army, which protects the Union State on the western flank,” asserted the President.

In turn, Sergei Shoigu confirmed that he had arrived following the presidents’ agreements. “I have, of course, the relevant powers and instructions of our President, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. I would like to express special words of gratitude to your Defence Ministry and personally to you. Five equipped training grounds have been provided on the territory of Belarus. Moreover, a sufficient number of instructors – officers of the Belarusian Armed Forces – are involved in training of our reinforcement,” the Russian Defence Minister said. “Indeed, there is a fairly large group here. Of course, today we will consider all the issues of its further stay, preparation, and, probably, expanding the scope that you discussed together with Vladimir Putin,” said the Russian Defence Minister.