After Vladimir Putin announced his readiness to support Alexander Lukashenko, the European Union began to carefully test the waters. In just one day, the Russian leader was contacted by Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron and Charles Michel.
On Sunday, the Russian president held talks with his Belarusian counterpart, indicating that Moscow is ready to support Minsk not only within the framework of the Treaty on the Establishment of the Union State, but also through the Collective Security Treaty Organization. This decision is justified by the intervention of Western countries in the internal affairs of Belarus with the aim of overthrowing the government.
Against this background, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Vladimir Putin. Following her, French President Emmanuel Macron contacted her Russian counterpart. According to the Kremlin press service, in a conversation with European leaders, Putin urged to avoid further attempts to interfere in Belarusian affairs.
In addition, it became known that the head of the European Council Charles Michel decided to discuss the situation in Belarus with Putin. The European official reported about the dialogue on the social network.
“Only a peaceful and truly inclusive dialogue can resolve the crisis in Belarus”, – he added after talking with the Russian leader.
It is important to note that all three calls took place on the same day. Such enthusiasm may be associated with attempts to understand the intentions of the Russian side in a situation when the West is aiming at overthrowing Lukashenko. European leaders understand that ignoring the Kremlin’s position is fraught with consequences.
The Bloomberg agency has already warned the European Union that the excessive activity of the West in the Belarusian direction will force the Russian leader Vladimir Putin to respond in kind.
“There is room for an active position, but there is also a risk of causing a lot of damage. Europe will need to avoid high-profile promises and statements that could alarm Moscow”, – Bloomberg notes.
Also, the situation was commented on by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Pavel Jablonski. According to him, excessive pressure on Belarus will only push it towards rapprochement with Russia. In this regard, the official even criticized the numerous calls in Europe for the introduction of anti-Belarusian sanctions.
“Initiation of sanctions without offering prospects threatens that Belarus will enter the zone of Russian influence even more”, – he said.
Attempted coup in Belarus
On August 9, presidential elections were held in Belarus, following which Alexander Lukashenko won. Western countries, for which the Belarusian leader had been a hindrance for a long time, did not put up with the voting results. As a result, pre-planned riots broke out in Belarus.
Attempts by law enforcement officers to keep the situation under control turned into clashes with radicals. At the same time, the Western media, actively covering the protests, focus specifically on the actions of the security forces against the “peaceful” protesters, as was the case during the coup d’état in Ukraine in 2014.
At the moment, European countries, together with the United States, are on the side of the protesters. They refuse to recognize the election results. The headquarters of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the leader of the pro-Western opposition, is preparing for long-term protests aimed at overthrowing the government. A committee for the “transit of power” has already been formed there. Tihanovskaya herself is hiding in Lithuania.
On Sunday, a week after the presidential elections, a rally of supporters of Alexander Lukashenko took place in the center of the Belarusian capital. About 65 thousand people gathered on Independence Square. At the moment, the President does not exclude the possibility that he will resign, but only after a referendum on amendments to the constitution.