The issue of сutting diplomatic ties with Belarus is overdue - Ukraine’s former FM Klimkin

He shared his opinion with Espreso TV. 

“The question of severing diplomatic relations with Belarus, which is absolutely logical, is overdue. It is also necessary to understand that Lukashenko in this sense is not the legitimate president of Belarus, he is not recognized by the world and Ukraine, besides, he is the main driver of pro-Russian activities in Belarus,” the diplomat commented.

Pavlo Klimkin noted that sometimes there are proposals to declare Belarus an occupied territory, but here one needs to be very careful with ideas and words. Because breaking diplomatic relations with Belarus is an obvious story, and declaring Belarus occupied, then, based on this, Lukashenko is forced to carry out orders, accordingly, the question of his and Belarus' responsibility arises, as well as many other questions regarding punishment and reparations.

“And I would not help Putin in this and would not pretend that in fact they have a union state and a certain new Soviet Union. That is, the severing of diplomatic relations is definitely necessary and there are no questions about this. But with other international legal matters,  then I would advise you to be very clear and careful, so as not to bring today's leadership of Belarus, I am deliberately not saying the president of Belarus, from responsibility as an accomplice of Russian aggression. Everyone should be held accountable,” Klimkin stressed.

• In mid-October, Putin and Lukashenko agreed on the creation of a "joint grouping" of troops on the territory of Belarus.

• On October 18, the EU agreed on new sanctions against the Russian Federation and Belarus.

• On October 20, the EU threatened Belarus with new powerful sanctions in case of direct participation in the Russian Federation's war in Ukraine.

• On October 21, Ukraine's Armed Forces published a video appeal to the Belarusian people and army with a call not to join Russia's "dirty war" in Ukraine.