Minsk 01:42

Ukraine needs elections, but Trump shouldn’t decide who will be its president, Łukašenka says

(usatoday.com / Still by Pozirk)

October 16, Pozirk. Donald Trump should not decide who will be Ukraine’s president, but he is right that the country needs elections, Alaksandar Łukašenka told reporters on Friday, commenting on the US president’s remark that Ukraine should get a new leader.

Łukašenka, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, told reporters that Volodymyr Zelensky should limit himself to one presidential term. “Trump is right that promises should be kept, but Trump should not dictate what Ukraine should do,” he said, adding that Ukraine’s president would be chosen by its people.

Łukašenka reiterated his support for Trump’s presidency, stressing that he “can still accomplish a lot” during his time in office.

Łukašenka linked Washington’s pressure on Kyiv to Ukraine’s dependence on US aid, including intelligence support and weapons supplies. He urged other countries not to fall into dependence on major powers and held up Belarus’ relations with Russia as an example of equal partnership. “We are friends with Russia, and we do our best for Russia to see us as valuable,” he said.

Łukašenka criticized the US policy toward Iran, stating that Washington’s military might does not make it invincible. “The United States is mistaken if it believes there are no forces in the world capable of stopping it,” he said.

Belarus top diplomat: anything possible in relations with Washington

October 6, Pozirk. Washington has broader interests in its engagement with Minsk than simply securing the release of prisoners, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maksim Ryžnakoŭ has told Russia’s RIA Novosti. US diplomat John Coale, who has been negotiating with Alaksandar Łukašenka on …
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