Minsk -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is confident that Russia is not claiming eastern territories of Ukraine.
“I do not believe that Russia wants to “grab” eastern Ukraine although that seems real to some people, moreover, practically, Ukraine does not have a strong army,” Lukashenko told the Russian regional media on Friday.
He said Russia had committed to maintain normal living standards in Crimea. “It is much more important what happens next in Crimea. The situation is not as definite as some are picturing it. Winter is coming and things will now be more difficult because Crimea is cut off from utility networks. It will be hard to provide it,” the president said.
Lukashenko believes that Russia will try to meet its commitments to Crimea and Sevastopol.
“Politicians cannot lose face, but this load will be very heavy for Russia,” the Belarusian president suggested.
He again called the opinion of some politicians that Belarus might lose a part of its territory because of the president’s position in the Crimean issue absurd. “Do not think that I am scared although our opposition says today it is Ukraine and tomorrow it may be Belarus. This option is not being discussed in the political field. I cannot even think that Russia may grab a part of the Belarusian territory,” Lukashenko stressed.
“We may recall that a part of the Smolensk, Bryansk or Pskov regions was once a part of Belarus, but this does not mean we will lay claims to these lands,” the Belarusian president said.
