Lukashenka to Medvedev: We are not spongers, but give us money

The Belarusian leader has stated that he is ready to defend the “union state” only at the expense of Russia.

“We will certainly fulfill our functions. But we can do it only with Russia’s support, at least aid with armaments. It is not a good approach that we are sometimes suggested to buy armaments at market prices as they [Russia] like saying,” Lukashenka stated on Monday, after listening to the report on the deployment of the Belarus-Russia regional military taskforce, “Interfax-Zapad” reports.

The Belarusian ruler has noted that “naturally Russia is interested in having the Belarusian army in good shape in this area.” “This is why Russia has to help,” Lukashenka said. “I am saying that publicly, and I am not afraid of repeating it anywhere else,” he stressed.

As said by him, “the decision to use the regional military taskforce is a serious decision, and it should be adopted in the framework of the Supreme State Council of the “union state”. “I won’t sign any documents in working order. Please get this message to the Russian Defense Minister and the President of the Russian Federation,” Lukashenka said.

He underlined that “the Supreme State Council is to convene, and we will discuss this plan.” “I know that my Russian counterpart has considered the plan and they have agreed with it. Today we will discuss it and we will adopt it at the next session of the Supreme State Council. It will be the right thing to do,” Lukashenka noted. He said that “we have nothing to hide. We are open to the international community. I think Russia is not going to hide something either,” said the ruler.

Lukashenka has also stressed that “our contribution in ensuring our own security and the security of Russia and not only Russia is a huge contribution to peace and security.” “And it is a beneficial matter for us, a matter of image if you like. It is another reason why we are not going to hide anything,” the Belarusian leader stated.

“Otherwise we are always labeled as spongers. The community should know that we are not and that we fulfill the most important defense function, including the defense of Russia. It is the truth,» he said.