By this, the “last dictator of Europe” is probably referring to the nuclear weapons that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin wants to plant in his country. Lukashenko therefore calls for the conflict in Ukraine to end “before it escalates further”. The solution, he says, is an “unconditional ceasefire”. He also criticized Ukraine’s expected counteroffensive against Russia, which he said “makes any negotiations impossible”.
“A Ukrainian counter-offensive makes any negotiation impossible”
Lukashenko is Putin’s closest ally, but the relationship has become increasingly one-sided in recent years. Belarus’ strongman appears to have little say in the placement of Russian nuclear weapons in his country. However, he does not see it as “blackmail, but an opportunity to protect Belarus”.
HCSS analyst Patrick Bolder recently told BNR that the relationship between Putin and Lukashenko has changed to such an extent that the latter has “become Putin’s errand boy”. Bolder thinks Lukashenko is walking a tightrope after “winning” the 2020 election with 97% of the vote and then facing a popular uprising. That is why Lukashenko is very concerned about not letting his own troops get “sucked into the war”.