Belarus, Russia determined to persevere in face of hybrid war

A hybrid war has been launched against Belarus and Russia in all but name, but the countries have already grown stronger together and will endure. Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Aleinik made the statement after a joint session of the collegiums of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Minsk on 19 January, BelTA has learned.

Sergei Aleinik said: “The illegitimate sanctions-fuelled pressure on our states objectively requires greater coordination of actions from us, including the development of joint response steps. All the sanctions are obviously designed to deliver maximum damage to our citizens and create maximum discomfort. However, the past year demonstrated that any damage can be mitigated through tighter manufacturing cooperation and integration. We will do everything we can to become even more resilient and more independent in the future. Independent from irresponsible decisions of Western politicians.”

The official said: “A hybrid war has been launched against us in all but name. It is designed to wear out and weaken both Belarus and Russia. And, let's say, weaken our statehood and sovereignty. But we have already grown stronger together and will endure just like we did multiple times in the course of our common history.”

The counteraction of attempts to falsify and rewrite history and the sacrilegious war on monuments was mentioned as an important avenue of Belarus-Russia cooperation. Sergei Aleinik mentioned an exhibition that had been opened in the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and offers an opportunity to see rare exhibits. It is dedicated to the 210th anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812 (the French invasion of Russia) and organized by the collector Vladimir Likhodedov.

Summing up results of the session of the collegiums of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian one, Sergei Aleinik pointed out they had had a very constructive and comradely conversation. “Our meetings traditionally proceed in a very friendly and sincere atmosphere. We have no closed topics. The success of Belarusian-Russian relations owes a lot to it,” the official concluded.