Stanislau Shushkevich: Lukashenka Ruined Everything

It is turning 25 years since the historical meeting in Viskuli on December 8.

Three persons out of six who signed the agreement to dissolve the USSR —Stalislau Shushkevich, Leonid Kravchuk and Gennadiy Burbulis — have come to Washington this week to take part in the events, dedicated to this date and organized by a series of American civil organizations and universities, BelaPAN reports.

On the eve of the anniversary the politicians made speeches at the meeting in the “Atlantic Council” and discussed how to apply the prior experience to respond to the new challenges, in particular, given the Kremlin’s attempts to establish the Russian reign at the post-Soviet space.

According to former Secretary of State of the Russian Federation Gennadiy Burbulis, the modern society remains in an even more acute need of an agreement similar to what was concluded in the Bialowieza Forest. He believes that the problem of the Russian-Ukrainian relations cannot be solved from the outside with the deepening of sanctions and isolation of all sorts. "If these measures have not worked for two years, then both strategy and tactics should be changed,” — Burbulis has said.

Ukraine’s first president Leonid Kravchuk, on the contrary, supports the idea of putting pressure on the Kremlin, having noted, however, that “no order can be achieved only by sanctions”. He agrees with Burbulis that gaining authority through force leads into the dead end:

“The current situation is much more complicated than it was before signing of the Brezhnev agreements. So, why can’t the world leaders find a decision in the name of the people who don’t want war? I am convinced there is no road but for the road of piece for Ukraine.”

Speaking about whether the newly elected American president is ready to change the US views on the situation in Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk suggested not hurrying with the estimates, and waiting for the statement of Donald Trump after taking office.

"So far, as the President, he did not say anything. But if he recognizes the annexation of the Crimea, I would apprehend it in a very negative way, "— Kravchuk has said.

Former chairman of the Supreme Council of Belarus Stanislau Shushkevich believes that in the face of Moscow's aggressive policy Belarus also remains in an unenviable position. According to him, "The Kremlin will dig in its heels to make Belarus a colony of the empire." However, Shushkevich is convinced, despite the fact that the "anti-Belarusian President ruined everything that has been achieved in the Bialowieza Forest", the Belarusian young people understand that their country is not an appendage of Russia.

"Sooner or later Belarus will become a normal civilized country", — Shushkevich has noted.

Meetings with Shushkevich, Kravchuk and Burbulis, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Bialowieza agreements have been planned in the various public institutions and universities in Washington and Boston.