Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference with his Belarusian counterpart Maksim Ryzhankou that he sees attempts to drive a wedge between Moscow and Minsk.
Speaking about his meeting with Aliaksandr Lukashenka, Lavrov said a positive assessment had been given to the level of Russian-Belarusian foreign policy coordination.
“We exchanged views on the key problems created by the West, not only around the Ukrainian settlement, where it is placing obstacles in the way of any sincere efforts, but also by escalating tensions in other parts of the European continent. We have a unified position: we are allies, we remain faithful to our allied commitments, we see the intentions of those trying to find gaps in our approaches and drive wedges between us, as the Russian saying goes, and we will continue what we have agreed upon and what has been endorsed by our peoples — advancing the strengthening of the Union State in all its dimensions: social, economic and, of course, military and military-technical,” he said.
According to Lavrov, he held extensive talks on Monday, but had already spent more than two hours working with Ryzhankou immediately after arriving the previous day.
For his part, Ryzhankou said there were no problems in relations with Moscow.
“Based on the results, it is impossible to identify a single problematic issue or acute matter that we were forced to discuss,” the Belarusian foreign minister said.
During the press conference, Lavrov also addressed the war in Ukraine.
“Our position is very clear. We fully understand the approach that President Lukashenka has outlined: Belarus is our ally, but Belarus is not participating in the war. If anyone wants to drag it into the conflict, Aliaksandr Hryhoravich has already responded to that: ‘It will not end well for them,'” he said.
