Lukashenko announced an ultimatum to Russia
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that he considers unification with Russia a “stupid question,” and if Moscow does not compensate Minsk for losses from the termination of preferential oil supplies, the Russian Federation risks losing “its only ally in the western direction.”
The head of state said this at a meeting in Minsk.
“Today there is too much talk (I analyze the situation in our society, and among Russians) about the unification of the two states. Many questions have now arisen in connection with the Church in Ukraine about the autocephaly of our Church in Belarus. I call these questions very stupid, far-fetched for discussion in our society...
The President of Russia and I have clearly determined that there is no such issue on the agenda today – unification,” Lukashenko said.
He claims that at one time it was Moscow that thwarted the implementation of the Union Treaty.
“We should have at one time adopted a Constitutional Act, that is, the Constitution of the Union State, and everything should have been spelled out there: governing bodies, government bodies, a single currency, politics. Russia at one time refused to follow this path. I reminded the Russian President of this, he said: “Yes, that’s how it happened.” The question arises: what will we do with the union treaty? We need to sit down at the table and see what we can decide together today, according to the agreement, what we can do without any pressure...
And this is not because Lukashenko wants it that way, as it is presented in Russia, but because these are the fundamental principles for building any union. There is no equal basis - no union,” the head of Belarus snapped.
“All the time, when forming this union, we must look at the opinions of our people. Therefore, for many, many reasons, as you yourself understand, there is no talk of unifying the two states,” he added.
“Russia does not have such an opportunity, given the consequences of everything, to do this. Therefore, we need to calm down and stop these conversations that someone has tilted or is tilting someone. No one will bend anyone here,” Lukashenko said, meaning by the consequences either a negative reaction from the West to the strengthening of the Russian state, or the threat of opposition from Belarusian independents.
He also again demanded compensation from Moscow for the cancellation of preferential energy supplies.
“Some people in Russia say: “We have no obligation to compensate. This is not stated anywhere in the union treaties.” To which I ask a direct question: “So, when we signed these agreements (on the Union State, the EAEU), we were counting on a constant deterioration of the economic situation in connection with certain internal actions of the Russian Federation?” No. We were counting on the best,” Lukashenko said.
At the same time, he threatened to start purchasing oil not from Russia, but from other countries.
“I have long set a task, and we need to solve it: to open an alternative supply of oil through the Baltic ports. If the Lithuanians do not agree, negotiate with the Latvians and purchase this oil,” Lukashenko said, adding that for the Baltic countries it will be cheaper than now, when they buy oil products at world prices.
“Therefore, we should not assume that this is a disaster. If the Russian leadership chooses this path of movement and the loss of its only ally in the western direction, this is their choice. We cannot force them,” concluded the leader of Belarus.
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