INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
![putin_lukashenko](https://defenceredefined.com.cy/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/tinified.jpg)
The Kremlin has no doubt that at the appropriate time the presidents of Russia and Belarus, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, will visit Crimea together, said a spokesman for Russian leader Dmitry Peshkov, shedding light on the importance of Lukashenko’s recognition of the peninsula as “Russian territory”. “Obviously it is not the best time for such trips to Crimea,” said Peskov, adding that, “I have no doubt that at the right time the two presidents will agree and visit Crimea,” even though no particular city on the peninsula is currently being considered, but a general journey instead.
“Obviously, a very important statement was made by President Lukashenko that, in the view of the Belarusian side, Crimea is de facto and de jure Russian,” the Kremlin spokesman said, referring to the Belarusian president’s statement in an extensive interview on Russian state television, where he claimed that “everyone understood that Crimea is de facto Russian and after the 2014 referendum it also became de jure Russian,” and added that he has no disagreement with V. Putin, from whom he has asked three times to “guide” him to the peninsula, while they have also already jointly agreed that they will make this trip in due time.
Reacting to Lukashenko’s statements, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said his country would evaluate Lukashenko’s actions, not his words, and “if Belarus recognizes Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea, it will significantly impair the Ukraine-Belarus relations, and we will proceed with a generalized reaction,” according to the Ukrinform agency.
Also read: The EU and NATO condemn the instrumentalization of immigration from Belarus
Taking another step towards a rift with Ukraine, the Belarusian president said he would “support Moscow in the event of a Ukrainian attack” and that he would be “in close economic, legal and political relations with Russia,” claiming that he would never support the “nationalists who took power in Kiev”. Furthermore, he stated that he will do everything “so that Ukraine becomes ours because Ukraine is ours, the people there are ours,” without specifying who he refers to exactly or what he means when he uses possessive pronouns, stating that “these are not emotions, but my firm belief”.
Belarus does not need to pass any special laws recognizing Crimea as “Russian”, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, commenting with applause on the Belarusian President’s remarks.
The declaration of Crimea as Russian territory based on the referendum of March 2014 and the 96.77% of voters who voted, according to the Russian administration, in favor of this prospect, is not recognized by the majority of countries or all international organizations, while it is denounced as a Russian attack by Kiev, which considers the Crimean peninsula a temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine.
Source: AMNA
Also read: Ukraine | The United States announce additional military aid worth 150 million dollars
NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION
Freddy Beleris | Ιn jail until October
The elected mayor of Heimarra and Member of the European Parliament of New Democracy will remain in prison until October…
Ukraine | Satellite images depict destruction of Russian drone base
Ukraine claims that satellite images show the destruction of a Russian warehouse used to launch Iranian-made drones and train cadets.
EU | Accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova officially kick off Tuesday
EU Finance Ministers meeting in Luxembourg formally approved the framework for negotiations with the two candidate countries…
EUROSATORY 2024 | Missile Artillery Solutions from MBDA
With such a large number of interested attendees at MBDA’s pavilion at the Eurosatory 2024 Defence exhibition, the stand reminded of an…
KNDS | Showcases full range of LEOPARD battle tanks at EUROSATORY
KNDS continues to expand its technological advantage in the field of main battle tank development, as we have witnessed at the Defence and…
THEON SENSORS | Distinguishing appearance at EUROSATORY 2024 with new range of products
THEON SENSORS attended the International Defence and Security Exhibition EUROSATORY 2024 as an ambassador of Greek innovation…
Ministry of Defence | Organization of Hellenic EDF Info Day
A Conference entitled “EDF Info Day” is organized in the Amphitheater of the National Gallery on Tuesday, July 9 from 09:00 to 17:00.
ALTUS LSA | Participates in EUROSATORY 2024 with KERVEROS in the foreground
The participation of ALTUS LSA in EUROSATORY 2024 is among the Greek participations of operational significance.
Freddy Beleris | Ιn jail until October
The elected mayor of Heimarra and Member of the European Parliament of New Democracy will remain in prison until October…