Фото: пресс-служба Лукашенко
Aliaksandr Lukashenka has assured another Russian governor that his multi-vector policy does not distance Minsk from Moscow and that he does not want to repeat Ukraine’s fate. This time, the assurances were addressed to Alexei Russkikh, governor of the Ulyanovsk Region. In 2025, Lukashenka had already “justified” his multi-vector policy to the governor of the Smolensk Region, and in February this year he told Sergei Glazyev, Secretary of State of the Union State, that he was not resolving his problems at Russia’s expense in talks with the United States.
“As for our trade and economic relations, you know our capabilities well. I always tell Russian governors: look, if there is anything we can do for you in this situation, we will always do it. Regardless of what people around us say. And especially what they write, particularly in Russia.
I follow the media very closely, because today the war is being fought primarily in the media, among other places. And I will tell you frankly that sometimes I read with surprise what some people—whether bloggers or whoever—write about Belarus. About multi-vector policy and so on. I have said many times that multi-vector policy does not distance us from the Russian Federation in any way.
Yes, we pursue a multi-vector policy because the economy is its foundation,” Lukashenka said today, according to his press service.
He said the West had cut off cooperation with him. Therefore, as part of his multi-vector policy, he had turned to the South, Southwest and East, and was developing relations with Africa.
“That is our fate: we are located in the center of Europe. As I often say, neighbors are given by God, you do not choose them, and you have to try to maintain good relations with your neighbors, which is what we do. The West does not want such relations with us, but God be with them—that is their business. But Russia is always excluded from the equation, along with the People’s Republic of China, whoever we talk to (I have also spoken about this with the Americans recently).
These are people who have always extended a hand to us and supported us. We will respond in kind to our Russian brothers, the citizens of the Chinese Republic and others in the East.
Sanctions have been imposed on us and Russia. The East is open to us. We are not a giant economy that needs to indulge in geopolitical ambitions. As I often say, we do not need much for our people to live normally and for the economy to function. Technology is what matters most to us. We need to deepen our cooperation. We have not lost anything from Soviet times; we have not closed or shut anything down. On the contrary, we have developed it. And because we stood on the shoulders of giants, as a famous classic writer put it, this helped us preserve what we have today. That is important for any state,” he said.
“Our interests and vectors lie wherever our economy is. This is not about our deep-rooted relations, first and foremost with you, the Russian Federation. Therefore, all this talk about multi-vector policy and reproaches against Lukashenka are absolutely incompatible. Besides, I have been president for more than 30 years. It is no longer for me to change any vectors. Some have even gone so far as to say, ‘Lukashenka is not an ally.’ Well, that is a matter of taste. For now, we—and I think this will continue—are finding common ground with the leadership of the Russian Federation. With the President of Russia and the leaders of the major parties. There are no differences in our approaches.
We are patriots; we are ready to defend our homeland. And you should know that there will be no withdrawal here, much less betrayal. You can see how betrayal ends in Ukraine. We do not want to repeat that fate,” Lukashenka added.
It should be noted that Alexei Russkikh is the first Russian official to meet Aliaksandr Lukashenka since the visit to Minsk by U.S. President’s special envoy John Coale and U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that a deal on Belarusian potash fertilizers was being prepared.
Today, Lukashenka also sought to bring Russia into his U.S. track and the proposed deal. He said he supported building a nitrogen fertilizer plant with the participation of the Americans and Russians, with its output supplied to the United States.
“We agreed with Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin—Reform.news note) that Gazprom would join us in implementing a project to build a nitrogen fertilizer plant. We should make an offer to the Americans. They want fertilizers—including nitrogen fertilizers—so let’s build it together. Using your technology. You (the United States—Reform.news note), Gazprom and Belarus. We have already selected a site, and all the utilities are in place. Otherwise, we will build it with Gazprom and the Russians and sell the finished products,” he said.
Lukashenka then turned to cooperation with the Ulyanovsk Region. In that region, he is focusing on the Aviastar plant.
“Bring us into aircraft manufacturing more. We have the base and the expertise. Help us with technological equipment, and we will be good assistants to you. We will not make the aircraft—you have to make it. But gradually involve us in areas where we can do something for you,” he said.
According to him, aircraft and armored vehicle repairs have been carried out in Belarus for a long time, but the country needs to move on to production.
“But it is time to move from repairs to production. We are already doing a lot and preparing components and parts for you. We are ready to modernize production and deepen our involvement. We are ready to manufacture aircraft together with Russia—the Osvey aircraft project is in place. We will work together on production,” he added.
Russkikh, in turn, noted that Ulyanovsk’s Aviastar was already working with Belarus’s 558th Aircraft Repair Plant and Minsk Civil Aviation Plant No. 407.
“Every year we produce more and more aircraft, and your enterprises, the 558th and the 407th, are providing significant assistance in this. We are extremely interested in expanding this cooperation year after year. Of course, a great deal of work had to be done before they could begin supplying components. But we have overcome all the barriers, and cooperation is now only increasing,” the governor said.