Belarus imposes the “terrorist operation regime” in the face of possible “provocations” from neighboring countries

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Oct. 14 () –

The Government of Belarus has decided to impose the “anti-terrorist operation regime” in the face of possible “provocations” by neighboring countries, within the framework of the war between Russia and Ukraine, unleashed on February 24 by order of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, ally of Minsk.

“The head of our country has held a series of meetings with security agencies and the anti-terrorist operation regime has been introduced. There was information about planned provocations by neighboring countries, connected with the seizure of certain parts of Belarusian territory,” Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said.

“We see how from Ukraine they say: ‘We are soft and fluffy, we do not plan anything on the border with Belarus.’ Unfortunately, today the world has become such an unpredictable place that we cannot trust anyone, so we have to take care of our own security”, he stated in an interview with the Russian newspaper ‘Izvestia’.

In this regard, Makei recalled that the Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko, has stressed that “we must protect the people and ensure that the invader does not set foot on one meter of our land”, before emphasizing that “in the current situation, not a single signal of this kind should remain without an adequate response”.

“The Belarusian Armed Forces, security agencies and special services are prepared to repel any provocation that may arise from neighboring countries”, explained the Belarusian Foreign Minister, who has defended that the authorities “have always believed that only negotiations can solve a complex, tense and conflict-prone situation like the one in Ukraine.”

“All confrontation ends at the negotiating table, it is a diplomatic axiom. The events in Ukraine will end in the same way,” he argued, although he revealed that “colleagues from some European countries” recently told him in New York that “the The Ukrainian leadership has received a clear order not to negotiate with the Russian leadership”.

In this way, he has indicated that the “order” implies avoiding negotiations in Belarus and Turkey, which have so far hosted several rounds of contacts. “There were communications from some European colleagues, transferred in great secrecy, ordering (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky to do this,” he said, before adding that he “will not name the countries.”

“I can only say that each time, after each round (of talks), the government delegation told us that there was clear progress and that it would continue after returning home, but then there were additional problems and difficulties, which could not take place, I think, without influence of some external adviser. Consequently, the negotiations had to start, not from scratch, but from some initial positions”, he lamented.

“I am totally convinced that the lack of independence of the Ukrainian leadership is one of the reasons for the continuation of the conflict in Ukraine,” he noted. “Unfortunately, I do not see political will, at least on the part of Ukraine. I am pessimistic and I think that only the deterioration of the situation in the country can push for a solution,” he settled.

Makei’s words come a day after the head of the Belarusian Security Council, Alexander Volfovich, assured that Minsk will only go to war if its border is violated. “Belarus, as the president said, will not enter the war or make claims except if our state border is violated. In this case we will defend ourselves,” he stressed, while accusing the international community of trying to “involve the country in a military conflict” by suggesting a possible involvement.

This week, Lukashenko reported that Minsk received a warning of a possible attack from Ukraine through unofficial channels and described such movements as “madness” considering that “the last thing Ukraine needs is a new open front in the north.” However, he warned that there will be a “strong” response in the event of an attack and recalled that Moscow and Minsk have already proceeded to deploy joint contingents in the face of increased tension on Western borders.