Lukashenko says Russians did not invade Ukraine

According to self-proclaimed Belarusian leader Aliaksandr Lukashenka, Russia did not invade Ukraine, but only "came in making a detour while returning home from exercises". He said this in an interview with the American magazine Time. Journalist Simon Shuster came to Minsk for the conversation, reported on the official website of the head of Belarus.

During the conversation, they discussed the relationship between Belarus and Russia, relations of Belarus with the EU and the U.S., as well as the war in Ukraine.

In particular, Alexander Lukashenko presented a new version of the events of February 2022, stating that at that time a large-scale joint military exercise with Russia was held in Belarus. According to him, the manoeuvres were held in the south of the country, at Brest and Baranovichi firing ranges, after which the withdrawal of Russian troops began through Homel and southern regions of Belarus, mainly by rail. Lukashenko claims that at some point the columns turned south and entered Ukraine, travelling along the Leningrad-Odessa highway.

He specified that they were talking about the units of the Eastern Military District of the Russian Federation, which had arrived from eastern Russia. At the same time, Lukashenko, when asked why the Russian troops were moving home through Kiev, said that this should be asked to Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky. He stressed that he was not privy to the details of possible military plans, as only a few people in the General Staff know the information when preparing such operations. According to him, the February events were not a joint operation between Minsk and Moscow.

Lukashenko also said that at that time Vladimir Putin feared a stab in the back from the West, but he personally assured the Russian president that such a thing would not happen: "I won't allow to shoot Russians in the back."

According to Lukashenko, he had a conversation with Putin when Russian troops were in Kiev. Putin told him that the Ukrainian military allegedly "hid in kindergartens and schools," and therefore he would not strike those facilities. Lukashenko noted that Putin ordered the withdrawal of troops, believing promises of a quick end to the war, but the fighting continued.

Commenting on the image of a "bloodthirsty" Russian leader, created, in his opinion, in the West, Lukashenko said that such accusations are unfair and recalled the cases when Ukrainian drones flew into the territory of Belarus.

Separately, he explained why the Belarusian army did not take part in battles, including during the Ukrainian operation in Kursk region. Lukashenko emphasised that this was a clash within the framework of the war, not a direct attack by Ukraine on Russia, and Minsk's participation in the fighting would have led to serious political and military consequences, including the possible appearance of NATO troops in Ukraine under the guise of mercenaries.

"We are preparing for war every day, every month to avoid it," Lukashenko summarised.