Lukashenko plays with fear: “God forbid us to use this weapon” Putin downplays the Ukrainian offensive – the nightly update without photos

Alexander Lukashenko is apparently in the best of health. This is worth mentioning because just a few weeks ago, on May 9, during Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, there was speculation that the Belarusian dictator might be seriously ill. At that moment, Lukashenko appeared with his hand bandaged and weakened.

But five weeks later, despite all the doom prophecies, he is still firmly in the saddle in Minsk. And the Belarusian ruler is proving to be a loyal ally of his Kremlin counterpart, dictator Vladimir Putin. In accordance with his intentions, Lukashenko now threatened the West with the use of nuclear weapons. His justification was astounding: in the event of a threat, all he had to do was call the Kremlin, the 68-year-old ruler said on Russian television on Tuesday.

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“What kind of problem should it be to coordinate such a battle?” asked Lukashenko. “That’s not a question at all.” Putin announced in March that Russian nuclear weapons would be stationed in Belarus. However, these remained under Russian control, the Kremlin chief assured.

Without Lukashenko, Putin would have a problem

The nuclear weapons would be needed to protect Belarus from attack. The West has been trying to tear the country apart for years, Lukashenko claimed. But Belarus can no longer be attacked with nuclear weapons.

However, so far no one has directly threatened their country. The only pressure on the Belarusian dictator comes from the Kremlin. Vladimir Putin has more than once put his protective hand over Lukashenko and demanded something in return. After the allegedly rigged elections two years ago and violent protests in the country, Lukashenko had to fear for his power.

Experts say the price he pays for protecting Putin is high. Lukashenko would be politically at the mercy of those in power in Moscow.

However, Putin also needs the man in Minsk. Without Lukashenko, the pro-democracy movement in Ukraine’s neighbor would flare up again – something the Russian autocrat does not need. It is an alliance of fate entered into by the two rulers, and it manifests itself in regular threats from the perceived enemies from the outside.

Just last week, Putin and Lukashenko met for talks at the exclusive summer residence of the Kremlin chief in Sochi on the Black Sea. In a relaxed atmosphere they talked about even closer economic and military cooperation. Lukashenko appeared in a casual shirt with sunglasses. Everything seemed fine, everything normal. If it hadn’t been for the war and if it hadn’t been for the issue of nuclear weapons.

Known game with the fear of the opponent

Lukashenko calculatedly played the nuclear war card during his appearance on Russian television. “The bombs are three times more powerful than the bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki,” said the autocrat, who has ruled Minsk since 1994. “About a million people die instantly. God forbid we use that weapon.”

Similar threatening gestures have also been regularly heard from Moscow since the start of the illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Despite all the warnings, nothing has happened so far. Men like Putin, the former KGB agent, have a habit of putting their opponents under psychological pressure. He can play well with fear. Now Lukashenko is apparently trying too.

Belarus is Russia’s closest ally and has also lent its territory to the Russian attack on Ukraine. After voluntarily giving up its nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the country has received nuclear missiles for the first time since the 1990s. Iskander missiles will be stationed there, which can be equipped with nuclear warheads. Several Belarusian fighter jets were also converted to the new weapons. (t-online/cc/dpa)