MOSCOW, May 21 (Reuters) – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday dismissed any suggestion that Belarus would be dragged into a war in Ukraine but said Russia and Belarus would work together to defend themselves in the event of aggression, Belarusian state news agency BELTA reported.
BELTA also quoted Lukashenko as saying he was ready to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has repeatedly hinted that Belarus could become further involved in the conflict that has lasted more than four years.
Lukashenko made the remarks during a joint nuclear exercise with Russia, which he and Russian President Vladimir Putin watched via video conference.
“As for (Zelensky’s) statement that Belarus will be involved in the war, as I just said, this will only happen in one case – if the aggression occurs on our territory,” Berta quoted Lukashenko as saying.
“Together we will defend our homeland… the positions of our two countries,” he added.
He said that if Zelensky wanted to “talk about something, have a discussion or something, no matter what, we are open to it. Anywhere – Ukraine, Belarus – I am ready to meet with him to discuss issues in our relations.”
Belarus allowed Russia to use its territory to participate in Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Zelensky has been warning for weeks of unusual activity and possible cross-border incursions.
Zelensky discussed strengthening defenses with officials in northern Ukraine near the Belarusian border on Thursday.
In a nightly video address, Zelensky said Russia was “eager to involve Belarus more deeply in this war” and assured Ukraine of “the ability to strengthen our defenses… and carry out preventive work.”
Lukashenko and Belarus have long been subject to Western sanctions over accusations of human rights abuses and helping Russia invade Ukraine in February 2022.
But the United States has held several rounds of talks with Belarus and released hundreds of detainees considered political prisoners in Western countries in exchange for the easing of some sanctions. U.S. envoy John Cole said Lukashenko may visit the United States soon.
In his comments, Lukashenko said European leaders were unhappy with the prospect of improved relations between Washington and Minsk, which may have prompted Zelensky to make the latest accusation.
“They see that we are having concrete conversations with the Americans,” BELTA quoted him as saying. “Not everyone likes that. That’s why they pushed Zelensky.”
(Reporting by Reuters, writing by Felix Wright; editing by Vladimir Soldakin, Ron Popeski and Alistair Bell)
