"They are trying to drag us into this conflict as well. Why is Volodymyr Zelensky behaving this way? We had a good relationship with him. My small family did too. What is he complaining about, what does he lack? He is being given orders. We must do everything possible to pull the country into war," – stated Lukashenko.
He did not specify who allegedly gives such orders to Zelensky.
"If we are dragged into war, it would be a dire situation. We may not withstand it as a state. [...] Let them say we have a dictatorship or whatever. Listen, a dictatorship like in Belarus is better than a democracy like in Ukraine. We must endure this. Under no circumstances should we panic," – Lukashenko said.
He also responded to Zelensky's words during his New Year address on December 31 about the importance of supporting all those defending the freedom of peoples: "and I am confident that the day will come when we will all say: "Long live Belarus!" – the head of the Ukrainian state said at that time.
"Well, long live. Naturally, long live. He did say that soon everyone in Belarus would be shouting these slogans. It was as if he hinted that we would soon have what they have in Ukraine. I thought about it when I heard him. And I think: 'God forbid,'" – Lukashenko remarked.