Lukashenka to help Kremlin implement “Russian world” project

How will the talks in Minsk end?

The Belarusian dictator agreed with the idea of Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko on organising a meeting of the concerned parties in Minsk to solve the crisis in the Donbas region. The talks are expected to begin today. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference yesterday he welcomed any aspiration regarding the talks and appreciated Lukashenka's offer. Vedomosti (Russia) writes how the meeting in Minsk may end.

“Holding a meeting on Ukraine in the neighbouring country demonstrates that the accurate positioning, a talent of balancing between neighbours and a quick reaction may improve the negative reputation among countries and leaders and make them important players in the international arena. The appeal of official Kyiv to Minsk has several reasons. Lukashenka is today considered to be among Russia's few allies. His figure at an organiser of the meeting and a possible mediator does not irritate the Kremlin, all the more that the president of Belarus repeatedly condemned the Maidan disorders,” the article reads.

The newspaper stresses that Lukashenka attended the inauguration of Poroshenko on June 8, 2014. The author of the article thinks the talks may affect his image in the West.

“Anyway, Lukashenka successfully used the geographic position of his country that borders on Russia, Ukraine and the EU and succeeded in political manoeuvering: remaining an ally of Moscow, Minsk has distanced itself from the Kremlin's implacable stance on the Ukrainian issue. If the talks in Belarus are successful, Lukashenka can theoretically become the Kremlin's assistant in implementing the 'Russian world' project,” the news paper writes.