Belarus turning into Russia's military base - Ukrainian Foreign Ministry

"We have again witnessed groundless insinuations against Ukraine from Alexander Lukashenko. It is obvious that Alexander Lukashenko has already fully mastered the patterns of Russian propaganda rhetoric about threats from the West and Ukraine in particular. He is talking too much about illusory American bases and militant camps in Ukraine, simultaneously turning our neighboring Belarus into Russia's military base," Nikolenko said.

He noted that the main threat to Ukraine, Belarus and the friendly Belarusian people now comes from Russia.

"Preserving the sovereignty and independence of Belarus, rather than becoming an appendage of Russia, is what Minsk is really worth thinking about," he said.

Nikolenko stressed that Ukraine has never interfered and will not interfere in the affairs of neighboring Belarus. Ukraine will also never pose any threat to the security of the Belarusian people, he added.

At the same time, Ukraine will continue to defend its freedom, independence and a free democratic choice of the Ukrainian people in favor of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, Nikolenko said.

"We are not doing this against anyone, but solely because we see the future of Ukraine in a united family of free European nations, where the value of life, human dignity and democratic choice are inviolable. And the same future is in the interests of Belarus," he said.

On Monday, September 27, Lukashenko reported on the situation on the state border of Belarus.

Lukashenko stressed the need "to react" to "NATO troops being brought to Ukraine."

Photo: BELTA