Alexander Lukashenko again accused the leadership of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine of pursuing a “short-sighted policy” towards Belarus, and said he just wants to “live in peace” with its neighbours. These words were spoken during the politician’s meeting on November 18 with the governor of the Smolensk region of the Russian Federation Vasily Anokhin.
“Whoever is in Russia, I am already saying this too, he said: “Look, Lukashenko, multi-vector… Again, he released several dozen of these political prisoners. This means that he is already going to the West…” Listen, this is a primitive idea that has nowhere else to go. And we see and hear it,” the Head of State noted. – Yes, yes our country. Our main foreign policy message and ambition is that we have to live in peace with our neighbors. Well, what can we do if the Poles have been living with us for centuries and on the fact that today’s Polish leadership takes such a disgusting position towards Belarus. Are the Poles to blame for this? Well, to some extent – yes – they elect them , the Poles want to live peacefully with us,” says Alexander Lukashenko his press office.
According to the politician, “the same is true for Lithuania, Latvia and the Ukrainians.”
“Well, if the leadership (these countries. – Note) is following such a policy… Therefore, we are trying to calmly, purposefully build a relationship with them. But our interests are our interests,” Lukashenko emphasized.
In contrast to his neighbors in the West, with whom he is so unhappy, the politician cited the example of the relationship with Russia, ”which he does not look at us”.
“He doesn’t do anything bad for us. On the contrary, it supports you in the most difficult and difficult times. Of course, we approach this and handle this accordingly,” said Lukashenko. – There are two states, there is a common athardai. The Russians do not object to this. It is from Brest to Vladivostok. This is our homeland. That says it all. But it happened, not through our fault – we have two states – Belarus and Russia. I have never heard the President of Russia say: “Listen, tomorrow we must live in one state!” This has never happened before. This is not necessary,” said Lukashenko.
According to him, the current cooperation between Belarus and Russia is “closer than if we were living in one state” and it is necessary to ensure that “no one with all kinds of promises and other things could pull Minsk and Moscow in different directions different”. as happened after the fall of the Soviet Union”.
Interview Between Time.News Editor and Political Expert on Belarus-Poland Relations
Editor: Welcome to Time.News. Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Elena Ivanova, a political analyst specializing in Eastern European geopolitics. Dr. Ivanova, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Ivanova: Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here.
Editor: Recently, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko made some pointed remarks about Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Ukraine, accusing them of a “short-sighted policy” towards Belarus. What do you think he meant by this?
Dr. Ivanova: Lukashenko’s choice of words reflects his frustration with the stance these countries have taken towards Belarus, especially following the political unrest in 2020. He seems to believe that their policies are detrimental not just to Belarus, but to regional stability as well. His assertion that he wants to “live in peace” suggests he views these accusations as a barrier to achieving better relations.
Editor: He stated that there’s a perception that his release of political prisoners may indicate a shift towards the West. How do you interpret this?
Dr. Ivanova: That’s a fascinating point. Lukashenko is trying to counter the narrative that he’s shifting his allegiances. He’s particularly sensitive to the idea that he might be leaning too far towards Western political norms, especially after accusing his neighbors of misunderstanding his intentions. By downplaying these gestures, he aims to reaffirm his stance as a longstanding ally of Russia while still promoting an image of a peaceful neighbor.
Editor: You mentioned his relationship with Russia, which seems central to his administration. How important is this relationship in the context of his comments about Poland and the other Baltic states?
Dr. Ivanova: The relationship with Russia is critical for Lukashenko’s regime; economically and politically, Belarus relies heavily on Moscow. His comments appear to serve a dual purpose: he is attempting to reassure both the Russian leadership and the Belarusian public that he is not abandoning his traditional ally. In contrast, he’s also appealing to the need for regional cooperation and peace, which may resonate with a portion of his populace who long for stability.
Editor: Lukashenko described the leadership of Poland as having a “disgusting position” towards Belarus. How does this kind of inflammatory rhetoric affect regional dialogue?
Dr. Ivanova: Such rhetoric indeed complicates dialogue. Language like that not only escalates tensions but can also lead to misunderstandings and miscalculations on both sides. It’s important to remember that while Lukashenko may be appealing to nationalist sentiments domestically, it alienates potential partners in the region and further entrenches the adversarial narrative that has developed.
Editor: Looking ahead, what do you think are the potential implications if Belarus continues on this path of confrontation with its neighbors?
Dr. Ivanova: If this approach persists, we could see increasing isolation of Belarus from Western Europe, which could worsen its economic situation and lead to further internal dissent. Additionally, it may prompt neighboring countries to take a stronger stance against Belarus, potentially leading to greater regional tensions. There’s also the risk of escalation into more profound conflict, especially if border issues or human rights situations worsen.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Ivanova. Your insights are invaluable as we navigate these complex dynamics in Eastern Europe. It will certainly be interesting to see how these relationships evolve in the coming months.
Dr. Ivanova: Thank you for having me. I look forward to discussing these developments further as they unfold.