Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a major ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, warned Tuesday that Western policies are edging the world closer to "the abyss of a major war" that will have no winners.
The Belarusian state-run BelTA news agency reported that Lukashenko made the comments during a ceremony honoring the graduates of military schools and high-ranking officers. During his remarks, the leader also claimed that the United States is behind the push for members of NATO to undermine the power and security of nations like Belarus and Russia.
Putin and Lukashenko have been close allies for years, and Lukashenko has been a vocal supporter of Putin's war in Ukraine. In March, he said during an interview with a Japanese TV station that the West provoked the war and that it would be "beneficial for the Americans." Lukashenko has also warned about the larger ramifications of the conflict in Ukraine. In a letter sent to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in May, he said international contributions to Ukraine's security could lead to another world war.
"Western countries, openly stage-managed by the United States, are dismantling the system of global security steadily, methodically and even against their own national interests and [their] populations' wishes," Lukashenko said during his Tuesday speech, according to a translation from Russian state-run news agency Tass.
He added, "Unfortunately, this Western policy is bringing the world closer to the abyss of a major war where, as you know, there won't be a winner anymore."
Lukashenko also reportedly railed against "freshly minted 'crusaders'" from NATO who have "suddenly decided that this is the right time for yet another 'eastward attack,' forgetting how similar ventures ended for their historical predecessors."
Lukashenko also made unsubstantiated claims about American interests leading to military forces being built up with "neo-Nazi ideology," noting that "openly Fascist regimes are being supported around undesirable countries," Tass reported. Since the beginning of Putin's invasion of Ukraine in late February, the Kremlin has made repeated claims that one of the justifications for the conflict is its goal of "de-Nazifying" the country.
BelTA reported that Lukashenko said that the West is developing plans to strike Russia.
"Strategic plans to attack Russia are being developed recently. The president of the Russian Federation and I discussed it in detail yesterday. And the main direction of attack will go through Ukraine and Belarus. The history is repeating itself," the Belarusian president said, according to BelTA.
Lukashenko also discussed recent moves for Sweden and Finland to become NATO members and hinted that the alliance is attempting to increase its power.
"The neutral Sweden and Finland suddenly expressed a desire to urgently join NATO, and the bloc, contrary to its rules, is ready to admit them into the alliance in an expedited manner—mind you, without even asking for the opinions of the peoples of these countries," he said, according to BelTA. "At the recent summit, NATO announced intentions to critically strengthen its presence and influence in Europe."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Jon Jackson is an Associate Editor at Newsweek based in New York. His focus is on reporting on the Ukraine ... Read more
