Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has asserted that Ukraine and the Baltic states have chosen to seek alliances abroad rather than cooperating with Russia.
This statement was made during their meeting in St. Petersburg, covered by the Pul pervogo Telegram channel and Russian media outlet Interfax. Lukashenko reflected on the potential partnerships with Russia, questioning why Ukraine and the Baltic countries would not engage in closer cooperation.
"This is our world, we have been building it for several decades, we won that horrible war [WW2 – ed.] together. So let’s move in this direction. But no, they don’t want to, they seek a better life abroad," Lukashenko stated.
Moreover, Lukashenko expressed his belief that Ukraine would eventually "come back" to Russia and Belarus.
His comments were made at the inauguration of a monument in Leningrad Oblast, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Leningrad from the siege. He remarked on the absence of Ukrainian representation at the event, stating,
"Three Slavic nations have suffered. But they are absent. What can we do? It’s their choice to take a different path. But I think they will come back to us. They will have no other option."
Putin, at the outset of their discussion at the Konstantinovsky Palace, mentioned that they would deliberate on the ongoing war against Ukraine.
"Of course, today during our conversation I will inform you in detail about what is happening in the special military operation zone," Putin said to Lukashenko.
