Vadzim Triukhan: Charter97.org is the only source providing unbiased information on the situation in Ukraine and Belarus

Lukashenka cannot be a reliable ally for Ukraine.

The day before yesterday Lukashenka met the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, today he has left for Moscow to meet Putin at the CSTO summit. How does Ukraine treat the negotiations between democratically elected Ukrainian leader and the last dictator of Europe? Vadzim Triukhan, an international and European laws expert, the ex-Director of the Coordinating Bureau of the European and Euro-Atlantic integration, told charter97.org that these measures were necessary, and negotiations with Lukashenka at the top level were being held only because Belarus was the country of great significance for Ukraine.

Due to the heavy military-political and socio-economic situation in Ukraine the country's leadership, in fact, has to negotiate with all the heads of state, including those of the CIS, looking for ways to minimize economic waste for the country and ways to affect Putin.

In terms of the meeting with Lukashenka the situation turns to be a complex one. On the one hand, Belarus is still subjected to sanctions, and they specifically relate to personal sanctions on Lukashenka and his associates, but at the same time, amid a slump in Ukraine's goods turnover with many countries, including Russia, goods turnover with Belarus not only remains at the same level but it has even increased. It is the way for Ukraine to make itself safe from a possible Russia's aggression by means of Belarus, located to the north of Ukraine. Therefore, this dialogue with Lukashenka is not just recommended, but it is vital for the official Ukraine. I, as the expert, believe that the Belarusian opposition may consider it some kind of betrayal of the democratic values experienced by Ukraine, but then you have to understand that this is a least-evil solution Ukraine has to agree to.

 - Today Lukashenka has left for Moscow to "take a bow" and has once again sworn his allegiance to Putin. Whether is Belarus a reliable ally in this situation?

- I don't believe that Lukashenka, being the President of Belarus, can be a reliable ally for Ukraine. But Ukraine needs Belarus assistance. And the coming weeks and months are going to show how sincere the current leadership of Belarus is in its intentions to take a certain stand towards relations with Putin.

- How does the official Kiev is going to check whether in principle Lukashenka is worthy of trust in?

- For example, during the visit to Kiev, Lukashenka agreed to broadcast UT1, the First National Ukrainian channel, in Belarus. It will allow showing the Belarusians the unbiased picture of current events in Ukraine. This is the honey trap and the test for conscientiousness for Lukashenka as it is of great significance for Ukraine to know that the Belarusians can see the truth. And at present moment the Charter97.org is the only independent source of information. The Belarusians have no other ways to get unbiased information. And there is a danger that under the pressure of aggressive Putin-Goebbel's propaganda the public opinion may change in favor of Putin, which is extremely important to avoid. Now Lukashenka, perhaps against his own will, should play a positive role for Ukraine.

- Several months have already passed since the "Minsk talks", but people continue to be killed and the war is not yet in sight. Did Lukashenka fail to be a peace keeper?

 - It is absolutely unacceptable format for Ukraine with regard to talks in Minsk, as the documents, already agreed upon in September, proved to be unsustainable. Therefore, the claim of Lukashenka to continue his role as a "peacemaker" and a mediator has clearly no grounds for it. All his efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement that will meet the interests of Ukraine and will lead to the restoration of territorial integrity are baseless.