Belarus president warns of risk of third world war UPDATED

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko called fears about the possibility of a third world war unfounded.

Fears of a possible third world war are justified, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a large meeting with the senior staff of the national security agencies in Minsk on 20 February, BelTA has learned.

“There is no country and nation that could feel absolutely safe for the last dozen years. Military force has once again become the main argument of the world centres for solving issues. As if there were no million losses and horrors of the First and Second World Wars. Now we are literally covered with an information wave of the so-called premonition of the third world war. There are grounds for concern,” the Belarusian leader said.

Belarus does not want war, but it must be prepared for it both mentally and strategically, Lukashenko said.

“We are aware of the real reasons for the interest in our lands. But this is not the point. We don’t need war, and we must be prepared for it both mentally and strategically. We need to acknowledge how serious the situation is. Let’s drop all illusions about the possibility of a diplomatic settlement of the global conflict. International law is also unable to relieve tensions,” he added.

The head of Belarus also said that the republic’s army had received two S-400 anti-aircraft missile divisions and two divisions of Iskander-M missile systems.

Lukashenko noted that there are 32,000 NATO troops, over 1,000 armoured vehicles, 235 airplanes and helicopters, as well as about 160 artillery systems and mortars at the Belarusian and Russian borders.