Russia can fight on, but it is exhausted, Łukašenka says

October 16, Pozirk. Russia can continue fighting for a long time, but it is severely exhausted and its economy has been badly affected, Alaksandar Łukašenka said on Friday during a visit to the Vierchniadźvinsk district, Viciebsk region, in a rare public admission of the war impact on his ally.

Both Ukraine and Russia want to end the war because of its negative consequences for both countries, Łukašenka was quoted as saying by state media.

“Yes, Russia is stronger, more resilient, it can continue fighting for a long time,” he said. “But the exhaustion is still very severe, and the impact on the economy is enormous, as you can see as well. Who enjoys and needs this? The Russians understand this, they are ready for peace. For Ukrainians, if they do not go for a peaceful settlement this year, next year it will be even harder, and later it will become impossible.”

According to Łukašenka, the United States is “hinting” that it is ready to lift its sanctions against Russia. However, if Moscow does not reach a deal with Kyiv, “it will be even harder next year,” he said.

Various factors are weighing on both Russia and Ukraine and pushing them toward peace, “because it is impossible to continue such warfare,” Łukašenka said.

He stressed that peace was also necessary “for humanitarian, humane reasons” and pledged to “do everything” to achieve it. “All wars end in peace, that’s why it’s better sooner than later,” he added, without mentioning Belarus’ support for Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Łukašenka has repeatedly called on Ukraine to accept a peace deal on Russia’s terms.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with the Belarusian authorities siding with the Kremlin. They allowed Russian troops to attack Ukraine from Belarusian territory on multiple occasions, supplied weapons to Moscow and provided other forms of assistance.

Speaking at a conference on Tuesday, Belarus’ pro-democracy leader Sviatłana Cichanoŭskaja stressed that Łukašenka “bears full responsibility for all the crimes he has committed together with Putin” and should not be portrayed as a “victim.”

Recalling Łukašenka’s refusal to recognize her victory in the 2020 presidential election and step down, Cichanoŭskaja accused him of deliberately “paying [Russian President Vladimir] Putin with Belarusian sovereignty for the Russian support that allowed him to stay in power.”

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Łukašenka seeks to expand people’s militia network

October 16, Pozirk. The existing network of people’s militia units needs to be expanded, Alaksandar Łukašenka has said while visiting the Vierchniadźvinsk district in the Vicibsk region, bordering Latvia and Russia, his press office reports. “You have one unit, a …

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