Russia and Belarus are actually close allies. Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko also tolerated his country as a deployment area and repeatedly spoke of “Ukrainian provocations” that would have to be answered militarily if necessary. But on the occasion of Ukraine’s Independence Day, Lukashenko congratulated the neighboring state on Wednesday.
Belarus will continue to work “to maintain harmony and develop friendly contacts based on mutual respect at all levels,” Lukashenko said. He was convinced that “the current contradictions” could not destroy the age-old relations between the peoples of Ukraine and Belarus.
Serbian broadcaster: “Is Lukashenko turning his back on Putin?”
Finally, the ruler, also called “Europe’s oldest dictator” by the West, wished all Ukrainians a “peaceful heaven, tolerance, courage, strength and success in restoring a dignified life”. There is now a discussion on social media about how serious the congratulations are. Serbian TV channel b92 even ran the headline on its website: “Is Lukashenko turning his back on Putin now?”
The congratulations from around the world to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people were less unusual and more an expression of solidarity with war-torn Ukraine. Austria’s Foreign Ministry assured “our friends in Kiev” on Independence Day that they would continue to support Ukraine. “For six months, Russian aggression has threatened Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but the courage and resilience of Ukrainians cannot be broken,” the Foreign Ministry tweeted early Wednesday morning, published in English and Ukrainian.
Van der Bellen: Values to fight for”
Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen also congratulated us in English. In a lengthy tweet, he upheld the values of freedom and independence achieved 31 years ago in sovereign Ukraine. “Today’s Independence Day reminds us of the importance of these values. Values that Ukrainians fight for every day. Values that unite us. Values to be fought for,” continued Van der Bellen, who pledged further Austrian support.
31 years ago, on August 24, 1991, the then-Soviet Republic of Ukraine declared its independence after the failed coup by conservative forces against Secretary-General Mikhail Gorbachev.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
