Interview with Chinese media

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko gave an interview to Chinese media – Xinhua and China Media Group.

The interviewers are Lu Jinbo, head of the Xinhua News Agency correspondent office in Belarus, and China Media Group correspondent Li Tongtong.

Asked about China’s role in the resolution of international problems, Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that he evaluates it very simply: no problem in the world can be resolved without China nowadays. “China has become a global country with its own global policy. I know that Xi Jinping will make a statement or a speech about the conflict in Ukraine today or tomorrow. I’d like you to note that it is an unusual step in Chinese politics. The Chinese are scrupulous and careful. They don’t meddle where they shouldn’t. If they understand that it cannot produce the desired results, they won’t take steps in this direction either,” he stressed.

“So, if China decided to voice its stance in this manner, from the mouth of the top government official Xi Jinping, it will have serious consequences. And if this message by the leader of China is not heard by those the message is addressed to, it will have serious consequences as well,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated. “This is why just to get ahead of things I advise those, to whom Xi Jinping will address his words, to take them seriously and take certain steps. It will be a serious voice in the name of peace in this region.”

The head of state is convinced that the forthcoming statement by the Chinese President will not be geared towards confrontation unlike a recent statement by U.S. President Joe Biden in Kiev. “I am convinced that this speech will be the crown of China’s entire peace-loving policy. I am 100% convinced of that. It simply cannot be otherwise. It is an example of this peace-loving policy,” the Belarusian leader said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that Belarus maintains the same stance: “Our way in Ukraine is the way of peace. The Chinese follow this path. I am 100% convinced that Russians are inclined towards ending this conflict. It is up to Americans – take concrete steps towards peace and there will be peace. China happened to be at the heart of this entire knot today. I once again advise to listen to what Xi Jinping will say about this conflict. In a most attentive manner because this statement by China is a new step, an original step, which will have serious consequences in the world.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko commented on the Chinese balloon incident over the USA as he spoke to the Chinese media.

“You understand well what the situation in the world is today. China will not be left in peace,” the Belarusian leader said. “China is the main rival of the United States. The Americans do not hide this. It is sad that they stoop so low,” he said. The head of state explained that he meant the Chinese civilian air balloon incident over the United States. “They put on a show like they always do. They made a big deal out of nothing to convince their society of the ‘danger’ of that Chinese object. When the attention of 300 million people, Americans, was glued to that object, they shot it down. For what? The election campaign is round the corner. They did it to show their heroism.”

“Later, however, when dust settled, people understood that it was just an unfriendly move against China. The Chinese immediately said that it was a civilian balloon. The two countries could have worked together to sort things out. But they deliberately destroyed it. That was a very unfriendly move,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Speaking about the recent visit of U.S. President Joe Biden to Kiev, the Belarusian head of state noted that it was one of the series of events alongside with the Chinese balloon incident. “The visit of Joe Biden to Kiev had a similar purpose. Such a petty, inappropriate move,” the Belarusian leader said.

At the same time, he noted that he thinks highly of Joe Biden as President and his decision to visit Kiev: “Well done. He hit the road, he asked permission from Russia or warned Russia, but nevertheless he went there.” However, there is nothing novel about this move, as a similar visit, also by the Americans, took place not so long ago, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. “This is parroting. A similar thing has already been done. The same kind of visit. What for? Because of the Presidential election. Joe Biden wants to use war in his pitch for re-election. It is not going to work,” the President said.

In an interview Aleksandr Lukashenko said that the conflict in Ukraine was inevitable and its primal causes are not in Russia.

“The Russian-Ukrainian conflict is one year old now. Yes, we talk about causes of this conflict but it is easier to see big things from afar as we like to say. Some time needs to pass in order to evaluate causes of this conflict. It is purely the Chinese style – one should never hurry. Time will come and we will dot every i. But I absolutely agree with President Putin, who says that primal causes are not in Russia. Bullying of Russian-speaking people, of the Russian language. It happened before 2014. And all of it had been ramped up by Western countries. Naturally, no country, neither America nor China would allow their compatriots to be bullied. People, who simply speak Russian and live according to Russian customs. People, who accept Russian culture. Moreover, vitriol from the side of Ukraine went all the way to the President of Russia and the entire Russian leadership. There is an entire bunch over there,” he said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded those present about statements made by the former leaders of Germany and France Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande. They admitted that they had exploited the Minsk agreements only to buy time for military preparations in Ukraine.

“The cause is over there, in the years 2014-2015. The Minsk agreements were adopted here, in Minsk. Those were normal agreements and Ukraine signed these agreements. They should have followed this path. And I guarantee you that today Donbass would be Ukrainian and would be governed by Kiev. All kinds of rough edges would have been forgotten a long time ago,” Aleksandr Lukashenko is convinced.

“Masks are off, cards are on the table. That’s the entire cause there is and the entire concept,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

He remarked that many people in Russia failed to comprehend actions of the country’s leadership. “I always tell Russians: don’t be hasty, time will come, and you will evaluate who is right and who is wrong,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.

“Some people in Russia say: you know, Russia was a bit hasty to start this military operation. But I say it was inevitable. The conflict in Ukraine was inevitable. If Russia had not forestalled this war from the side of Ukraine (now it is understandable who was interested in this war and who started it), if Russia had not preempted Ukraine’s actions and actions of the entire West from Ukraine’s territory, consequences would be more severe,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.