‘Lukashenka Looked Rather Frightened’

Europe knows what to say to the dictator's blackmail.

Natallia Radzina, editor-in-chief of Charter97.org, has given a big interview to the YouTube-каналу of well-known Russian journalist Yevgeny Kiselev.

One of the main topics of the conversation was the visit of Sergei Naryshkin, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, to Minsk.

Natallia Radzina believes that the head of the Russian FIS used Minsk to make several high-profile statements:

- First of all, he said that a truce with Ukraine is possible only on the terms of the actual surrender of this country. He repeated the theses that Ukraine's demilitarisation and denazification, the country's neutral status and recognising by Ukraine of the territories seized by Russia, i.e. the four regions and Crimea, were necessary. This was a clear message: under what conditions a ceasefire is possible on the part of Russia. Also, we heard threats against the Baltic States and Poland. It was stated absolutely groundlessly, of course, that the Baltic States and Poland are allegedly behaving aggressively towards Belarus and Russia. Apparently, the point in question was these countries' withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention and their intention to use anti-personnel mines on the borders with Belarus and Russia.

I regard his visit and these statements as an operation to intimidate Europe, to force Europe into a lewd peace. Naryshkin is bluntly saying: ‘Agree to our terms of Ukraine's capitulation. Stop arming Ukraine. Lift sanctions against us. Do not deploy peacekeepers on the border with Belarus.’ We understand that the last thing really bothers them, because deploying European peacekeepers on the Belarus-Ukraine border will allow relieving tens of thousands of Ukrainian servicemen and transferring them to the combat zone.

The European Union should not give in to the Kremlin's blackmail, says the journalist:

- I am sure that Europe will not get tricked by this blackmail. There has already been a comment by Polish President Andrzej Duda, who said that this is a classic example of Russian disinformation. That Russia is moving nuclear weapons to Belarus, threatening NATO and the EU, and has been implementing hard blooded imperialism for three years, attacking Ukraine.

No doubt Naryshkin voiced Putin's words. And it is quite obvious why it was voiced in Minsk. It demonstrates that the territory of Belarus can be used by Russia for a repeated attack against Ukraine, as well as possible aggression against Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland.

Radzina draws attention to the danger of the Belarusian-Russian exercises ‘West-2025’:

- I have just returned from Lithuania, and I can say that everyone in the country is concerned about the upcoming Belarusian-Russian exercise ‘West-2025’ this autumn. I want to remind you that recently, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky said that as a result of these exercises, the creation of an offensive grouping may take place, just like it happened in 2022. Now we have not yet seen any major moving of Russian hardware and servicemen to Belarus. However, it is gradually happening. For example, on 5 April, there was information that 14 wagons with Russian military equipment and one passenger wagon with personnel arrived in Belarus. That is, the gradual redeployment of Russian servicemen and Russian hardware is taking place.

The exercise is scheduled for September, I remind. We must keep a close eye on what will happen. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has already said that NATO will react to these exercises if they threaten neighbouring countries. However I would say that it is necessary to react already now.

By the way, at the meeting between Naryshkin and Lukashenka, I noticed that the Belarusian dictator was quite calm and did not support Naryshkin's aggressive statements. Naturally, he did not contradict them in any way. Instead, he remained silent, said some general phrases about the ‘union state’ and the determination to work together. He looked rather frightened. And I wondered: why?

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