{"id":100957,"date":"2024-08-17T13:48:19","date_gmt":"2024-08-17T10:48:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/100957\/"},"modified":"2024-08-20T12:27:42","modified_gmt":"2024-08-20T09:27:42","slug":"lukasenka-repeats-old-narratives-in-a-new-interview","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/100957\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka repeats old narratives in a new interview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka described Westerners as \u201cbeasts\u201d and \u201cmadmen\u201d in an interview, which the Rossiya<\/em> television network is set to air on Sunday. He claims to be a reliable ally of Moscow but stops short of sending troops to help Russian President Vladimir Putin whose army is struggling in the Kursk province.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n (Pozirk)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Righteous indignation against West<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the teaser, \u0141uka\u0161enka reiterated that Belarus hosts Russian nuclear weapons, noting that Westerners consider him \u201chot-headed\u201d and capable of spontaneously using them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He went on to describe a hypothetical clash with NATO, in which Belarus takes the first blow and Russia intervenes to help its ally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka castigated the \u201ccollective West\u201d as the Nazis, stating that he would not allow a repetition of World War Two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian ruler repeated his claim that the United States sends weapons to Ukraine to fuel the war, citing some insider information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to him, the Americans want Ukrainians and Russians to \u201cdie in this cauldron.\u201d If this is true, why did Putin follow Washington\u2019s plan by attacking Ukraine?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka refers only in passing to Ukraine\u2019s attack on the Kursk province, focusing on the danger posed to Belarus and alleging that Ukrainian drones had invaded his country\u2019s airspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He stressed that Belarus had redeployed its troops to the southern border, emphasizing Minsk\u2019s commitment to the alliance with Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anger at neighbors<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Speaking about the West, he focused his strongest words on European Union neighbors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka called Lithuanian politicians \u201cmadmen\u201d for banning cars with Belarusian license plates from entering the country on August 16, but then said it would actually benefit Belarus because consumers will spend their money inside the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He cast the Lithuanian government as an enemy of the people allegedly making unpopular decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The claim rings hollow, given that Lithuanian officials are elected by the people and their policies reflect the public\u2019s anxiety about security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In general, his anti-Western tirades epitomized his reluctance to mend ties with Brussels and Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has been sending mixed signals for quite a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One day he tells Foreign Minister Maksim Ry\u017eanko\u016d to consider the possibility of rapprochement, next day he unleashes bouts of fiery rhetoric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reassurances to Russians<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s interview is directed at gullible Russians fed daily with Kremlin propaganda narratives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claiming that the Belarusians and Russians are one people, he went on to say that \u201cthe Belarusians are Russians, but with a quality mark\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the interview, he again emphasized his loyalty to Moscow and readiness to confront NATO and promised an immediate response to any border violations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka also recalled his conversation with Putin at the beginning of what Moscow calls \u201cspecial military operation,\u201d when he promised to cover Russia\u2019s back by \u201cdeploying half the army.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bravado does not resonate with Belarusians<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite the bravado \u0141uka\u0161enka has good reason to be concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ukrainian counteroffensive demonstrated the unpredictability of war and exposed Russia\u2019s weaknesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia may not be able to help Belarus if it cannot defend itself, and \u0141uka\u0161enka is clearly not keen on sending his troops to help Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Ukrainians\u2019 spirited resistance thwarted Putin\u2019s 2022 blitzkrieg, no such patriotism is seen in the Kursk province and elsewhere in Russia. In fact, there are no queues of volunteers at Russia\u2019s military draft offices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Belarus, \u0141uka\u0161enka cannot be sure of Belarusians\u2019 true willingness \u2013 especially after the 2020 brutal crackdown \u2013 to put their lives on the line for his government. And they certainly will not be doing so for Putin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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