Cichanoŭskaja: Russia wouldn’t have started all-out war in Ukraine without Łukašenka’s help

December 1, BPN. If Alaksandr Łukašenka had not provided Russia with Belarusian territory, the war in Ukraine “would not have started at all or would have looked very different,” Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has told a security forum in Kyiv.

“Belarus’ withdrawal from the war would be a factor that would make it impossible for Russia to continue it,” Cichanoŭskaja said. She added that it was “critically important for Ukraine and the Belarusian democratic forces to act together against the aggressive dictators.” She believes that “together, the government of Ukraine and the democratic Belarus can achieve more through coordination, agreement and combination of our resources.”

On February 24, Russia launched a full-scale war against the Ukrainian people. The authorities in Minsk deny that Belarusian troops participate in hostilities. At the same time, the territory of Belarus was actively used by the Russians to attack Ukraine at the outset of the invasion and in later periods.