Lukashenko shifts blame for Russia's war in Ukraine to Pope Francis, Israel

In response, the politician stated that he regrets nothing and made an antisemitic remark, reports the Belarusian portal Zerkalo.

"I regret nothing. Absolutely nothing. I am not fighting, I haven’t been drawn into the war, and I haven’t dragged my country into it. But we are helping Russia. And when Westerners or you reproach me for something, I say that 57 countries are helping Ukraine, while I am just one. One country. What kind of help? Just what I can. I’ve been honest and upfront, haven’t avoided it or denied it. That’s why Russia is under sanctions, and we’re always mentioned alongside them," said the self-proclaimed president of Belarus.

According to Lukashenko, in February 2022, after conducting military exercises, Russia withdrew its troops from Belarusian territory, "from some Western Siberian district, from beyond the Urals, there were Siberians, the Eastern Military District."

"Suddenly, near Homiel, they turned and headed south toward Ukraine. Why did the Russians do that? Look into who provoked this war. Let Putin tell you how it happened. They were already withdrawing thousands of troops (the group was large), with some already sent back to Siberia. But about 20,000-30,000 remained, didn’t withdraw, turned near Homiel, and went straight to Kyiv, essentially entering it. Then you, along with the Pope and the Jews of Israel, started telling Putin: ‘Listen, you need to pull back from Kyiv, and the war will end. We won’t do anything else, we don’t want this,’ and so on. You deceived Russia again," Lukashenko shared his perspective on the events of February 2022.

Lukashenko also emphasized that he did not command Russian troops and was therefore not responsible for their actions in Ukraine.

"He (Putin - ed.) withdrew troops from Kyiv. At that time, two more weeks – and Kyiv would have been gone. And who would have fought then? So don’t blame me for deploying troops there. Those were not Belarusian troops. I am responsible for Belarusian forces. And if you think that despite my close relations with Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, I sit in Russia’s General Staff and draw movements of Russian armed forces on the map… Well, listen, you’re a dilettante. These things are done in silence, involving a minimal number of people, without foreign interference or foreigners," Lukashenko said.

"But they were on your territory," the journalist interrupted him.

"Homiel is Belarusian territory. And the troops from this territory entered through the Chornobyl zone, via Homiel, on a specific road. There is only one road, there is no other. What were you doing with the Americans and Ukrainians, that you let Russian troops pass through 200 kilometers? Did you miss it? Well, then look for the guilty ones within yourselves. Don’t blame me for it," the long-standing leader of Belarus for the last 30 years tried to justify himself.

• The head of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus, Igor Karpenko, announced that 86.82% of voters allegedly cast their ballots for Alexander Lukashenko in the presidential "election."