Belarus Foreign Minister on US Dialogue, Ukraine Mediation, and Nuclear Deterrence

Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryabkov gave an interview to RIA Novosti in New York (October 5, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly).

On dialogue with the US: "The United States is a state with which, of course, it is necessary or at least desirable to maintain stable relations and contacts… any state in the world, just as with Russia, China, and probably with the European Union."

At the same time, "this dialogue is not and cannot be conducted at the expense of our relations with our closest allies, first and foremost with the Russian Federation and China."

On a possible meeting between Lukashenko and Trump: "We are indeed considering a presidential meeting in practical terms… Yes, we are open to such a meeting… not at any cost, and we are not standing with hands outstretched."

On Special Envoy Cole: "He is a mediator… relations are so dynamic that anything can be expected."

On the release of prisoners: "There can be no talk whatsoever about 'political' ones. These are people who violated the law… The releases occurred at the goodwill of both the President and a special commission."

On contacts at the General Assembly: 20–25 meetings, including the first at ministerial level in 7–8 years with Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski. Europeans, he said, "are very afraid that someone will find out we met with anyone." "For the last six years, they have been hiding from us."

On European war rhetoric: "We must urgently arm ourselves… because war will inevitably come by 2029–2030… This war is not needed by ordinary citizens of the European Union. Only European politicians are playing this game… they want to inflict… civilizational defeat on Russia."

On 'Oreshnik' and nuclear deterrence: "The mere presence of nuclear weapons, of 'Oreshnik,' is a very serious deterrent… if someone… shows aggression, Russia will have no sentimentality." To Europeans he says: "Guys, don't forget about the Russian nuclear triad."

On Belarus's role regarding Ukraine: "Minsk is ready to be a mediator… Through us pass all prisoner exchanges… Since the start of the conflict, about half a million Ukrainians have crossed. Of them, about 140,000 remained in the Republic of Belarus."

The West, he believes, "does not want peace achieved too quickly… They want to attach Belarus as a 'co-aggressor'."

On sanctions: exports have been redirected — "we are exporting even more to Afghanistan than to the entire European Union… sanctions are not only problems, but also a time of new opportunities." Trade turnover with Russia — $27 billion in exports.

Source: Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.