21 March 2022

Lukashenko: Belarus and Russia are allies, kin people

Belarus has the closest allied relations with Russia, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in an interview with the Japanese TV channel TBS, BelTA has learned.

The head of state was asked whether he supports Russia's military actions in Ukraine. "I would like to answer your question with a question. You [Japan] are an ally of the United States of America and support the United States on the main problems of the world order. Why?" the president said.

In this regard, he recalled the decision to set up another bloc in the Pacific Ocean - the AUKUS defense alliance.

"So it's easy for me to answer your question in the sense that Russia is not just our ally. Russia and Belarus are kin people growing from the same root. You, as a Japanese, will understand me," Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “First, economically we are almost inseparable systems. We are deeply integrated into the production system of Russia, and Russia - into the Belarusian system. Severance of cooperation ties will create a catastrophe in the economy. Secondly, we have a single market. We supply probably half of our output to Russia. This is our main market. And that says it all."

"Belarus and Russia are practically one whole in terms of manufacturing, economy, sales market. And militarily, we have one grouping of armed forces. We are interconnected. These ties are called the Union State, which we have been building with Russia," the Belarusian president added.