Leonid Kravchuk: Lukashenka is Putin's emissary

Belarusian dictator is not an independent politician, the ex-President of Ukraine said.

In his interview to the online edition "Gordon" the first President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk told about relations between Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, about his vision of the purpose of the visit to Kiev of Aliaksandr Lukashenka and Nursultan Nazarbayev and Russian President's role in these negotiations.

- The visit of Nazarbayev and Lukashenka to Ukraine is the search for possible solutions to save Putin's face, who's in fact turned to be a Tzar, Leonid Kravchuk believes. - And Tzar only goes forward not back. This is a quest for a diplomatic and political solution to the problem of relations with Russia or prevention of the real war with it.

Putin understands his unfavorable position both within and out the Russian Federation territory. Though he pretends everything is alright and he will cope with the situation. Putin clearly did not expect the West would respond his policy. The latest European and the US sanctions, in fact, mean the complete isolation of the Crimea. And they will likely continue strengthening.

"One cannot say that only Russia is suffering as everyone suffers".

- Putin feels like he is sitting on the volcano. Not only the opposition and not only in Russia it is told about. So this is the reason why Lukashenka and Nazarbayev have been sent to Kiev. But they play, unfortunately, in my opinion, the role of dependent public figures, and are under the influence of Russia and beneath Putin's feet.

I saw them establishing their economic union, on which they are to meet in Moscow to sign something. I saw the artificial system of it. And Lukashenka's and Nazarbayev's statements, all addressed to the Russian President and Russia that they will create the economic structure that will have incredible opportunities. But the situation differs. The inflation of the ruble has led to what they are looking for new markets, seeking the way to settle accounts, talking of hard currency.

The first objective is the search of the way to overcome the crisis: political, economic, and military one, and to broaden some horizons. We are not living in a vicious circle, and the Ukrainian economy is linked to the Russian one, leaving its trail. One cannot say that only Russia is suffering as everyone suffers. And Putin had to take the first step to put it to an end. However, he will stand on his own as he still takes aggressive and dictatorial position, and he doesn't refuse it.

"Lukashenka and Nazarbayev have been instructed by Putin"

These are the reasons why Lukashenka and Nazarbayev go to Poroshenko. They want to know his opinion and the scenarios he is ready for. Now these meetings are not open, so it is hard to say something for sure. But it is clear that they have, in addition to their problems, a task associated with some of Putin's proposals. However, they do not refer to Putin not to put him in an awkward position.

If it were public or official visits, they would be organized in a different manner. Like work advisory meetings to clarify the position of Poroshenko. Putin and Nazarbayev, and Lukashenka have already discussed a position within the Economic Union. They want to know what the position of the Ukrainian President takes and what options, scenarios and concessions he would accept in specific situations.

I don't see what possible concessions we could do, because we have everything done. And even more. Minsk assignments are our humiliation, because they have not conduced a day of peace.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia had not signed anything, so there's nothing to talk about. Thus, these agreements have no international legal power, which they would have to, for them to be signed and ratified, as it should on such an important issue as the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

I stand for the meeting of signatory countries of the Budapest Memorandum and summarizing the results of whether the main stem line of this document is (control over the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine) observed. It should take place, and it must be held not by Ambassadors, but Heads of States signed the document. And only then we will have the issue to talk about. All the rest is just playing for time.