Putin ally Belarus stalls on announcing its recognition of referendum results in Ukraine

The Foreign Minister of Belarus said Minsk is yet to make a decision about recognising the results of referendums being held in Ukraine.

According to Vladimir Makei, the Foreign Minister of Belarus, its authorities have not yet made a decision regarding the recognition of the results of the so-called referendums being held in Ukrainian territories. Belarus is seen as an ally of Russia and Vladimir Putin, so this news comes as quite a surprise.

In an interview with France 24 TV channel on Sunday, September 25, Makei explained that Minsk would decide to recognize the results of the referendums based on its own interests. The republic “recognises Russia”, he said, but, “no one can accurately predict what will happen tomorrow”.

The minister described those who call Belarus a puppet of Russia as: “marginal politicians and marginal media”. In his opinion, Minsk pursues an independent policy.

“We will study the situation and make a decision in accordance with our national interests, and not with the interests of any other country”, Makei affirmed.

Belarus did not officially recognise Crimea as Russian after the 2014 referendum. At the same time, President Alexander Lukashenko said that he would recognise Crimea by decree of the head of state, “if necessary”, as reported by gazeta.ru.

Serbia has joined the list of nations who categorically refuse to recognize the results of the referendums in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, in accordance with the principles of international law.

Nikola Selakovich, the head of Serbia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday 24: “On the one hand, our fundamental commitment to the principles of international law, the UN Charter, and on the other hand, this would be completely opposite to our state and national interests”.

He added: “It would be contrary to our policy of maintaining territorial integrity and sovereignty and the principle of inviolability of borders”.

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