MINSK, March 31. /TASS/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko called to stop hostilities in Ukraine "with the right of movement of vehicles or relocations of forces" by the sides,
Delivering an address to the Belarusian people and the Parliament, the head of state warned about the threat if "World War III with nuclear fires," warned Kiev against counter offensive attempts, and assured that he does not cling to the presidential chair, and his children will not inherit the office.
Here are key Lukashenko’s statements so far.
On ceasefire in Ukraine
It is necessary to begin talks on peaceful settlement in Ukraine right now: "I would like to try and risk offering to end hostilities. Without a right for movement of vehicles and relocation of forces."
The potential Ukrainian counteroffensive is "extremely dangerous," because it jeopardizes the peaceful settlement: "This is the worst thing possible in the current circumstances. Because it can destroy all hopes for negotiations process and it would lead to an irreversible escalation of the conflict."
On Ukrainian crisis
Conflicts of the recent decades have started from the irrepressible desire of the West - "and not even West as a whole, but one particular state" - to subjugate the entire world: "The most indicative example is near our southern border [in Ukraine - TASS], where slaughter won’t stop until the master beyond the ocean says so."
Meanwhile, the world will forget about Ukraine, should a new conflict break out anywhere else in the world: "No one will deliver, give them weapons. And then what? Even if not defeat, they will not be able to rebuild their country alone."
About the threat of nuclear war
The US and its satellites have initiated a war "until the last Ukrainian:" "There is World War III at the horizon, with nuclear fires."
One must not seek Ukraine’s victory at any cost. "The Ukrainian’s belief that they can win is stupidity; it is impossible to win against a nuclear power." "Should the Russian leadership realize that the situation poses a risk of disintegration of Russia, the most horrific weapon will be used. One must not allow that."
About threat for Belarus
Western states seek to pull Minsk into the conflict as well: "They prepare to invade the Belarusian territory for destruction of our country."
"Never before in the history of our country, especially in the history of independent Belarus, was the issue so pressing, […] never before have we come close to this dangerous threshold, when we must pay special attention to preservation of sovereignty and independence of out country."
About nuclear weapons in Belarus
Back in the 1990s, Lukashenko was unwilling to surrender remove nuclear weapons from Belarus, but he was pressed and promised "no sanctions against those who removed them, no pressure, no planning of offensives or revolutions." These promises were not kept, "and everything was trampled on."
"In current circumstances," Lukashenko intensified "insistent negotiations" with Russian President Vladimir Putin on return of nuclear weapons to Belarusian territory.
About the future of Belarus
In 2020, the West attempted to carry out a "barbaric blitzkrieg" against Belarus, but failed. Right now, Minsk is ready for dialogue: "You’ve lost, and you should admit it. Let us somehow build the kind of relations that could be built today."
Lukashenko has no intention to cling to his office, but he thinks about the future: "Like all of you, I have children, grandchildren, who must live in a peaceful and independent country. I understand it better than anyone that, if Lukashenko is no longer there, his children will be pressed from every direction. And that is unacceptable for me."
He also has no intention to make power hereditary: "My children will not be presidents."
On economic independence
The West does not need sovereign Russia and Belarus with strong economies, and, if Moscow and Minsk want to be sovereign and independent, "one must not have their head in the clouds": "Everyone must do their job."
Belarus needs import replacement in order to stay independent "of whims of Western political elites.".