Lukashenko: Belarus prioritizes diplomacy over military options in relations with neighbors

Belarus prioritizes diplomatic means to resolve disputes with neighbors, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a ceremony to honor graduates of higher military educational institutions and senior officers at the Palace of Independence on 16 July, BelTA has learned.

“Behind us are our families, our children, elderly and women, our people. They believe in us. Their faith is our strength. They always take really hard all sorts of tensions, especially on our border,” the head of state said addressing the military.

He cited the recent situation on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border as an example. “I would not say it has aggravated, but it has gone beyond the routine practice. We noticed that the Ukrainians began to concentrate some troops there. They redeployed some from the front, the most trained combat troops, to the border area," the head of state recalled. “We did not hide this information from people. We presented this information in a calm manner. But people got alarmed by it.

"We had to make certain promises to people and respond. Everyone involved in that effort is to be commended. I'm very grateful to them. But opening fire is an extreme method. Of course, we must know how to do it but it's the last resort. We must always find ways to negotiate. The military too. The situation was resolved by the military alone. We didn't involve diplomats. But we worked using the diplomatic language. We succeeded," the Belarusian leader emphasized.

The Ukrainian side also does not need war in that direction, the head of state said. "We don't need it at all. They have withdrawn their armed forces. So have we," Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

The president emphasized once again that Belarus does not need war, but the country is ready to defend its borders if necessary: “We want no war. We will go to war only when someone comes to our land with the sword. We will do our best to use only diplomatic means to settle disputes, primarily with our neighbors.”

“We offer settling our relations with Poland and Lithuania in the same way. Yet, we have seen no reciprocity. Therefore, we have to keep our ears open and keep our powder dry in the northwestern and western directions,” the Belarusian leader added.