Vladislav Grigoriev12:40, 24.10.24

The leader of Belarus stated that the participation of other countries in the war would lead to an escalation of the conflict.

Alexander Lukashenko denies reports that  North Korea has sent its troops to Russia  to fight in the war against Ukraine. The Belarusian leader said this in an interview with the BBC .

British journalist Steve Rosenberg spoke to Lukashenko and found out how he feels about sending North Korean troops to Russia to fight against Ukraine. The Belarusian dictator responded that Russian leader Vladimir Putin would not allow such a thing.

“Nonsense. Knowing his character, Putin would never persuade another country to involve its army in the Russian special operation in Ukraine,” Lukashenko said.

Rosenberg asked the leader of Belarus what might happen if the reports about the dispatch of North Korean troops to Russia are confirmed. Lukashenko said:

“This will be a step towards escalation of the conflict if the armed forces of any country, even Belarus, end up on the contact line. Even if we got involved in a war, because you, the Anglo-Saxons, will immediately say that another country has interfered on one side and NATO troops will be brought into Ukraine.”

The journalist also found out whether Putin had ever asked Lukashenko to provide Belarusian troops for the war against Ukraine. The Belarusian leader responded that he had not discussed this issue with anyone from the Russian side.

Rosenberg noted that Belarus did play a role in the war against Ukraine. He emphasized that in February 2022, the full-scale Russian invasion began, in part, from Belarusian territory and Lukashenko gave the Kremlin permission to do so.

“How do you know that I gave permission to use Belarusian territory?” Lukashenko was indignant.

The Belarusian leader added that exercises involving several thousand Russian soldiers were taking place on his country’s territory and that Putin had begun to withdraw these troops from where they were located in southern Belarus, along the road that runs along the border with Ukraine:

“At some point, he redirected some of these troops to Kyiv. I am sure that they were provoked. Putin himself decides how to withdraw his troops. Through Kyiv. Or he could go through Minsk.”

Lukashenko also said he did not call Putin to find out what was going on. He said the Russian dictator has the right to dispose of his soldiers as he sees fit.

(c)UNIAN 2024