Lukashenko: Ukrainians are no nationalists, except for ruling elite
Speaking with journalists at the Vavilov Minsk Mechanical Plant, the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, described Ukrainians as hardworking people and explained why he congratulated the people of Ukraine on Independence Day
“I personally have a very good and kind attitude towards Ukrainians,” said the Head of State.” Be it even western Ukrainians. There is nothing bad in them. They are not nationalists. Nationalists are those who are on top, starting from those who sniff, drink and then blather from TV screens. The people are good. These are our people. Therefore, I considered it necessary, as always, to congratulate the Ukrainian people.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko also commented on the corresponding aggressive statements of Ukrainian politicians, one of whom even threatened him with physical violence, ‘I didn’t even pay attention to the fact that someone there went into a rage, the same as in case with Scholz.”
The President of Belarus also answered the claims of Ukrainians for supporting Russia, “We have a Union State, a single defence complex, in fact, a single army, and we work together. We did not reproach the Ukrainians that 55 countries and all NATO are working for them today ... We are allies of Russia. We are the only country that has supported and will continue to support the Russian Federation in this way. Our people do not fight there and do not kill anyone, but they kill my people. Remember that special operation we did? 74 truckers were released. So, they killed two and seized their organs so that it was impossible to establish how they mocked at them and how they killed them. What do they have against me?”
Aleksandr Lukashenko also drew attention to the fact that the United States promised to provide $3bn of military assistance to Ukraine ‘so that Ukrainians continue to die’. Moreover, he recalled that even in the early days of the conflict he initiated peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. “I was messing around like with children,” the President said, indicating that later the negotiation process eventually reached a dead end.
Speaking about his political patience with Ukraine’s actions, the Head of State noted that both personal and state are mixed here, “My great-great-great-grandfathers’ roots are buried somewhere between Chernigov and Kiev. My surname speaks for itself. Thank God for saving. As far as state affairs are concerned, these are our neighbours. Where to go, if these are neighbours? They are not chosen, I have often said. They are given to us by God, so we must treat them accordingly. Thirdly, these are our people, these are the Slavs. We are all from the same root. In general, I have always admired Ukraine.”
