Lukashenko hits back at threats of U.S. Department of State

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko hit back at the threats and patronizing tone of the U.S. Department of State representatives against Belarus as he approved the decision on the state border protection for 2022 on 24 January, BelTA has learned.

"Just a day ago I was told about the threats from the U.S. Department of State. They came to our diplomats in New York and laid out their threats: They will impose sanctions if we allow Putin and Russia this or that. If we decide to host nuclear weapons, they will do that. They have this patronizing tone towards Belarus," the Belarusian leader said. “So I want to draw their attention to what I said when I visited Luninets. There's not much we can add. We don't need war. The United States, using Poland and Latvia, is pushing for this war. We have been a donor of security in the region and we have always been appreciated for that."

“Look, it cannot get any worse. But if they want to bring us to the brink of an abyss, they know how we will respond to that. In the context of the situation developing around us, here in the region, and given the Washington's recent statements, we will have to defend the borders of our country. We know how to do it, and we will do it for sure,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said that the West in general and the European Union, in particular, should look into the mirror in the first place. “Why has the European Union curtailed cooperation on border issues? They have terminated this cooperation. It was not us who decided to escalate the situation. We just responded. We will act in the interests of our state, no matter what they tell us, no matter how much they threaten us,” the head of state said.