May 24, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has called the United States “scoundrels” who had “no right” to impose sanctions on aircraft. He spoke to the media in Minsk today after negotiations with Vladimir Putin.
“They imposed sanctions on Russia’s aircraft, on us. For example, on my plane,” Łukašenka said, as quoted by his press office. “They banned their companies from servicing [our aircraft].”
According to Łukašenka, the recent death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash is “their fault too.”
“They banned the maintenance of this helicopter. That’s for sure.” He said God will punish those responsible for such decisions.
On Ukraine, Łukašenka and Putin stressed that the term of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who remains in office under martial law, has expired.
“There are enough military and civilian people there today who would like to head the country and lead in a new way, to war or out of war. But the situation is developing as it is. I think that this year will determine a lot of things. A great lot. Let’s wait and see. We’re not in a hurry, especially Russia. We have a united position and do not hide it,” the Belarusian ruler said.
Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in the East Azerbaijan province of Iran on May 19. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several other officials were also on board. Nobody survived.
Heavy fog might be the cause. A few days after the incident, Iranian media said it could have been caused by a technical malfunction.
