Lukashenka gave in: Crimea today is a part of Russian Federation

“If we had to choose, we will choose the Russian Federation. And I told Putin about it”, - stated the governor.

 “Our domestic, foreign, military policy is not aimed against NATO or anyone else. We will pursue a balanced policy. However, if we had to choose, we will choose the Russian Federation,” Aliaksandr Lukashenka said. He added that he told Vladimir Putin about it during the recent conversation.

“Crimea, just like Ossetia, Abkhazia and other regions, is not an independent state. Today Crimea is part of the Russian Federation. No matter whether you recognize it or not, the fact remains,” Lukashenka told reporters on 23 March.

He also emphasized that “nobody demands that Belarus should recognize Crimea and support Russia or make a stand against it”. “I will tell you honestly: nobody demands it from me and from our government, from the Foreign Ministry,” Belarusan President said. 

The President shared his views on the future development of the situation: “I think the situation will develop the same way de-facto. Whether Crimea will be recognized as a region of the Russian Federation de-jure does not really matter. Everybody recognizes Russia”. 

Lukashenka summed up his speech saying that“if you ask me what choice I will make (Crimea is not the hardest of these choices), I will tell you that considering our common historical background, our Union State project, and our agreements with the Russian Federation, we will be with Russia and there should not be any further speculations about it,” the Belarusan head of state said according to BelTA.