05:23Mandatory credit: Pul Pervogo
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that the US 'wants a war here in Europe', speaking at a meeting with representatives of different nationalities living in the country, in Minsk on Thursday.
"The Americans want a war here in Europe. Then they will be in an advantageous position. The Americans see high-tech Europe as a competitor," he stated.
The Belarusian leader also added that his country was the only one helping Russia while Ukraine 'is being helped by 50 countries of the world.'
"[Ukrainian leader Volodymyr] Zelensky often accused me, of Belarus helping Russia. I would say: 'Yes, we help Russia. It is our ally,'" he said.
"And what did Ukraine do? It had imposed sanctions on us before the West did."
On Friday, US President Joe Biden is set to hold talks with UK PM Sir Keir Starmer, with the agenda expected to include allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons for long-range strikes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the move would "mean nothing but direct involvement of NATO countries, the United States, European countries in the war in Ukraine" and added that it "considerably changes… the very nature of the conflict, implying that NATO countries… are at war with Russia."
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
'Americans want a war here in Europe' - Lukashenko
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that the US 'wants a war here in Europe', speaking at a meeting with representatives of different nationalities living in the country, in Minsk on Thursday.
"The Americans want a war here in Europe. Then they will be in an advantageous position. The Americans see high-tech Europe as a competitor," he stated.
The Belarusian leader also added that his country was the only one helping Russia while Ukraine 'is being helped by 50 countries of the world.'
"[Ukrainian leader Volodymyr] Zelensky often accused me, of Belarus helping Russia. I would say: 'Yes, we help Russia. It is our ally,'" he said.
"And what did Ukraine do? It had imposed sanctions on us before the West did."
On Friday, US President Joe Biden is set to hold talks with UK PM Sir Keir Starmer, with the agenda expected to include allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons for long-range strikes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the move would "mean nothing but direct involvement of NATO countries, the United States, European countries in the war in Ukraine" and added that it "considerably changes… the very nature of the conflict, implying that NATO countries… are at war with Russia."
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
Mandatory credit: Pul Pervogo
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that the US 'wants a war here in Europe', speaking at a meeting with representatives of different nationalities living in the country, in Minsk on Thursday.
"The Americans want a war here in Europe. Then they will be in an advantageous position. The Americans see high-tech Europe as a competitor," he stated.
The Belarusian leader also added that his country was the only one helping Russia while Ukraine 'is being helped by 50 countries of the world.'
"[Ukrainian leader Volodymyr] Zelensky often accused me, of Belarus helping Russia. I would say: 'Yes, we help Russia. It is our ally,'" he said.
"And what did Ukraine do? It had imposed sanctions on us before the West did."
On Friday, US President Joe Biden is set to hold talks with UK PM Sir Keir Starmer, with the agenda expected to include allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons for long-range strikes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the move would "mean nothing but direct involvement of NATO countries, the United States, European countries in the war in Ukraine" and added that it "considerably changes… the very nature of the conflict, implying that NATO countries… are at war with Russia."
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.