Shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion started, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko apologized to President Volodymyr Zelensky over the nation's involvement within the warfare, Zelensky revealed in an interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman revealed on Jan. 5.
"A couple of days into the warfare, I spoke with Lukashenko on the cellphone, and he apologized… he mentioned, 'It was not me, missiles have been launched from my territory, and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin was the one launching them.' These are his phrases, I’ve witnesses," Zelensky mentioned in his wide-ranging interview.
"'And I apologize,' he mentioned. 'However imagine me' — that's what he instructed me — 'Volodya (referring to Volodymyr Zelensky), this isn’t me. I’m not in cost,'" Zelensky added.
In response, Zelensky mentioned that he known as Lukashenko "a assassin," questioning why Lukashenko allowed Russia to launch missiles at Ukraine from Belarusian territory.
Lukashenko grew to become more and more reliant on Russia after isolating Belarus from the West, following Belarus' 2020 election. Lukashenko's opposition and the West condemned the outcomes as fraudulent.
Lukashenko cracked down on mass protests that broke out in response to the fraudulent election outcomes. Since then, Belarusian authorities have more and more suppressed political freedoms and have turn into complacent in Russia's warfare in opposition to Ukraine.
Regardless of not being straight concerned in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Belarus continues to host Russian troops and missiles on its territory.
Lukashenko requested Putin on Dec. 6 to deploy the Oreshnik missile programs in Belarus, a weapon Russia just lately used to strike Ukraine, Russian state-controlled information company RIA Novosti reported. As many as 10 missile programs will likely be deployed, in line with pro-Kremlin journalist Alexander Yunashev.
Belarus will likely be holding its subsequent presidential election on Jan. 26 the place Lukashenko is anticipated to be handed a seventh time period in workplace.
The Kyiv IndependentVolodymyr Ivanyshyn