Lukashenko says Belarus and Russia are “walking on thin ice”

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said that Belarus and Russia are “walking on thin ice” as they continue efforts to build their Union State, while Minsk maintains a multi-vector foreign policy driven by economic necessity.

In an interview with RT, Lukashenko said Belarus’s foreign policy approach is shaped by its export-oriented and open economy, which requires cooperation with multiple international partners.

“Regarding the multi-vector policy, it stems from the economy. We sell more than half of the material goods and services we produce on foreign markets. We have an open economy, so we are forced to see our interests in the West, in Russia, China, and Africa — wherever everyone goes, including Russia and the Americans,” he said.

“This is our interest in order to, as I recently said, live — not just survive, but live. This is our interest, it comes from life itself. What is there to blame us for? There is nothing to blame us for,” the Belarusian leader noted.

Lukashenko also stressed that Belarus strictly complies with the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State with Russia.

He recalled that Minsk and Moscow signed the strongest agreement — the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State, which defines relations between the two countries.

“We are trying to build a kind of Union State, we are walking on thin ice, trying to do something. Did the Americans and the West not know this? They knew! And I strictly comply with this treaty,” the head of Belarus said.

According to Lukashenko, Belarus is engaging in dialogue with the American side, not against Russia and China.

“If someone in Russia reproaches me for negotiating with the Americans, I can ask them a question: don’t you also maintain dialogue with the Americans? You do. But I am engaging in dialogue with the Americans, not against Russia and not against China. At our first meeting, I told them: guys, Russia and China are our long-standing not just partners, but friends. And when you, Americans and Europeans, imposed sanctions against us, China and Russia opened their doors to us. Thanks to this, we were essentially saved. Why should I now conduct any kind of dialogue or policy against them?” Lukashenko said.

The Belarusian leader also assured that he is well aware of how he is perceived in the West. “No matter what negotiations the West conducts with me, I fully understand that I am not their son of a b****. They would gladly chew me up and spit me out. I fully understand that. But even in such a situation, since I am the president of this country, of the Belarusian people, I am forced and obliged to proceed from the interests of the people, not my own interests,” Lukashenko explained.

Western countries have always provoked post-Soviet republics, including Belarus and Ukraine, against Russia, said Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

“You (the West — TASS note) have always provoked both us and Ukraine and other post-Soviet republics against Russia. And Volodymyr Zelenskyy knew that. I knew it too, and I know it now,” he said in an interview with RT.