Lukashenko says West was pushing Ukraine toward war

Belarus was ready to deploy troops on border between Donbass, Russia - president

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday said Western countries were pushing the Ukrainian government to start a war.

Qazet.az reports that "The West pushed them toward this war," he said in an interview with Japan’s TBS television that was posted on the Belarus-1 YouTube channel.

The Belarusian leader said Kiev imposed sanctions on Belarus even before the West did. "They closed the opportunity for us to fly over Ukraine, meaning they closed the sky, restricted all flights," he said.

Military activities

Military activities in Ukraine would be over quickly if the United States took a position in favor of peace but Washington is unlikely to make such a move, Belarusian President said.

"The war can end very quickly if he (US President Joe Biden - TASS) makes a phone call, if the US takes a position in favor of the establishment of peace on Ukrainian soil. However, he is unlikely to make a call like that. The reason is that the current situation in Ukraine is beneficial for the Americans. This is what America needs," Lukashenko pointed out.

According to him, it is either Russia and Ukraine that can end hostilities by signing an agreement or the US, by ordering the Ukrainian authorities to stop military activities. The Belarusian president believes that if Washington takes such a step, the European Union and other countries will support it.