Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday Russia and Ukraine had, and still have, a chance to avoid war.
The continuation of the conflict risks dividing Ukraine as was the case in other countries of the world, the Russian news agency TASS cited him as saying.
The Western countries have come to know that Ukraine cannot win the war despite the huge military assistances coming in Ukraine, Lukashenko pointed out. The Belarussian leader noted that neighboring Russia was able to finalize transformations in its military structure, and acquire modern conventional weaponry, including drones, and a large number of volunteers.
On human damage of the war, he said Ukraine has lost 45,000 military casualties since the start of its counteroffensive more than a month ago, adding that this figure represents one eighth of Russia's losses.
Regarding the possibility of Belarus siding with Russia in the war, he said his country (a staunch ally of Russia) has just 70,000-strong army and joining the war will unlikely make a change.
On the other hand, Russia has 250,000 reservists who could be called up if need be, he said, admitting that the Russians underestimated Ukraine at the beginning of their military operation out of the conviction that the Ukrainians would not fight back
Source: Kuwait News Agency