Łukašenka attends Victory Day in Minsk, makes no speech

May 9, BPN. Alaksandr Łukašenka was present at Victory Day festivities in Minsk, without delivering a speech.

A wreath laying ceremony in Minsk’s Victory Square began at 7:00 p.m. and lasted 20 minutes. It was broadcast by state television.

An announcement came that Defense Minister Viktar Chrenin would speak on Łukašenka’s behalf.

Among other things, the minister talked about the “global military confrontation unleashed between the Western and the Eastern Slavic civilizations.”

“The battle is unfolding on all fronts. There is a large-scale proxy war, where the West by the hands of Ukrainians is fighting for its own interests, for the opportunity to continue to impose its own order on the world,” Chrenin said. “It is pumping weapons into Ukraine. Our neighbors openly trade in Russophobia and are ready to throw people into the meat grinder of a second echelon war.”

Сhrenin pointed out the militarization of Poland and the Baltic states.

He said “individual western politicians are only pushing the planet into the abyss, trying to fan the fire of World War III in Europe.”

“Our army is ready to repulse anyone who tries to violate the sacred borders of the Belarusian state,” Chrenin stressed.

This morning, Łukašenka watched the Victory Day parade in Moscow’s Red Square.

May 9 is one of the most significant secular holidays in Belarus and Russia, marking victory over Nazi Germany.