{"id":184332,"date":"2026-04-20T20:20:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T17:20:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/184332\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T20:21:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T17:21:13","slug":"lukasenka-blames-eu-for-sanctions-welcomes-closer-engagement-with-us","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/184332\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka blames EU for sanctions, welcomes closer engagement with US"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Video by Pul Pervogo Telegram channel \/ Still by Pozirk)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

April 20, <\/strong>Pozirk.<\/strong> <\/em>Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka blamed the European Union for “stifling” Belarus with sanctions in his interview with Russia’s RT<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian ruler’s press office has been releasing excerpts over the past few days, where he commented on the current international situation and Minsk\u2019s engagement with Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey [Europeans] have been strangling me all the time,\u201d it quoted him as saying. \u201cYou have to be friends with those, and perhaps only with those, who want to be friends with you. I mean, what kind of friendship could I possibly have with [Keir] Starmer or [Joe] Biden? What kind of friendship could I have with him if he imposed sanctions against me, and the Europeans were putting a noose around my neck to hang me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luka\u0161enka added that Belarus is open to improving ties with the United States if US President Donald Trump seeks to build friendly relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The politician noted that his close personal ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, describing the relationships as friendly and longstanding. He also defended Kim Jong Un, criticizing Western portrayals of the North Korean leader. \u201cKim. . . has been demonized,\u201d he said, describing him as \u201ca wonderful, intelligent, educated man\u201d who is \u201cfighting for the interests of his country\u201d and \u201cnot getting in anyone\u2019s way.\u201d \u201cHe is ready to have good relations with me, friendly relations. I have no objection.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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