Vitaly Portnikov: Lukashenka, Who Has Gone Mad, Dances to Putin's Tune

You can put a bold cross on the relations of the usupator and Ukraine.

Belarusian ruler Aliaksandr Lukashenka said that Moscow and Minsk are working on the issue of opening direct air flights from Belarus to the occupied Crimea, writes Ukrainian publicist Vitaly Portnikov for espreso.tv.

This decision of the Belarusian president once again demonstrates that Lukashenka has put a bold cross on future relations with Ukraine. Earlier, after the air communication between Ukraine and Russia was terminated, the Minsk airport was the main hub where flights from Kyiv to Moscow and other Russian cities were transferred. It is clear that the appearance of a Belavia aircraft at the Simferopol airport would lead to sanctions from Ukraine and Minsk's loss of its transit status. But, after the scandal with the landing of the plane of the Irish airline Ryanair and the detention of opposition at the airport of the Belarusian capital, maintenance of this status has become completely irrelevant for Lukashenka. And it became relevant to emphasize his loyalty to Putin and readiness to follow in the wake of Russian politics.

If Belavia's planes start flying to Crimea, Belarus will become the first sovereign state - apart from Russia itself, of course - to recognize the possibility of flying to the occupied peninsula. At the same time, the flight itself is unlikely to become economically profitable: aircraft from Belarus will have to fly over the territory of Ukraine and the journey from Minsk to Simferopol will take several hours. But, for Lukashenka, as well as for Putin, the main thing is not convenience or even economic expediency. The main thing is the symbolism of such a flight, a demonstration of the complete subordination of the Belarusian foreign policy and national interests of Belarus to the interests of the Kremlin. And this is one of the first clear results of the recent meeting of the presidents of Russia and Belarus, about the results of which practically nothing was reported. It was not reported because the main result of this meeting was the final consent of Lukashenka, who has gone mad, to dance to Putin's tune.