First Head of Belarus: Fearing Putin’s nukes West is not able to stand up to Russia
Stanislau Shushevich, the firsl leader of independent Belarus, tells Belsat TV whether he would leave nuclear weapons in the country’s now, and why the Kremlin is rattling the sabres.
Belsat: In film ‘Crimea. Path to Motherland’ Putin said that he actually threatened their partners to put nuclear weapons on alert. What do you think about it?
Stanislau Shushkevich: You know, I’ve recently become hardened. Russia has nothing to show off, and that’s why it will be engaged in rattling. What Putin is doing is absolutely unacceptable. But on this occasion I have studied the history of the Soviet Union from the very beginning. During the annexation of the Baltic republics they were also rattling sabres. Apparently, Putin has nothing but [nuclear] weapons to become famous for. And I would say that it is the most terrible problem for Europe. The cheapest weapon that Russia has is human lives. Sending thousands of Russians to their doom is as easy as winking for Putin. And when the lives of people in the West are threatened, especially with nuclear weapons, I fear that the West will become more amenable and will hardly be acting reasonably, which Putin fully realises. And he is blackmailing Western diplomats and Western countries by this.
Belsat: Who is the main target of this rattling sabres – Ukraine, Europe or the United States?
Stanislau Shushkevich: Everyone. He says: “We have a new military doctrine, we can be the first to use weapons.” Now there are a lot of tactical nuclear weapons. And it has become popular to use it as a threat. Russia has nothing to show off except for weapons! It does not produce anything that could surprise the world. It only develops defense industry and sold oil and gas, but oil [price] has fallen by now.
Belsat: How should non-nuke neighbouring countries (eg Belarus), respond to these threats?
Stanislau Shushkevich: I have nothing to say about the behaviour of Belarus. Lukashenka obeys Putin. He goes to Moscow, receives the order instead of a loan – it would make even a fly laugh. How should other countries react? They must take the threats seriously. Before the start of World War II, when Germany annexed Sudetenland, Churchill said: “Britain has a choice: humiliation or war.” Britain chose humiliation and later got a war.
And if the West is not persistent, there will be a war. And the West has already forgotten about the 1994 Budapest Memorandum due to Russia’s rattling sabres.
Belsat : What does a violation of this memorandum mean?
Stanislau Shushkevich: The West takes excellent resolutions. But it is hard to nearly 30 countries of the EU to compromise their positions. Greece – or Hungary – is usually a soft touch. They get something from Russia – and betray pan-European standards. The West does not adhere to the unity that is crucially needed in fighting against the aggressor. I want to say that commissioners who are sitting in Brussels, and their predecessors, completely forgot about their own conditions stipulated to Lukashenka. Thus, they actually spat in the face of the Belarusian opposition. Only Poland stick to its position, as it is facing the biggest threat.
Belsat: Let’s go back to the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Would you dare to withdraw nuclear weapons from Belarus under present-day circumstances?
Stanislau Shushkevich: Let’s not mix two different things up. I was in favour for immediate removing nuclear weapons from the territory of Belarus, without preconditions and compensations. I explained everything to the Supreme Council, they agreed and made a decision. The fact that it was a threat to the Belarusian nation, as well as for the Belarusian state. Having so many weapons could have lead to ruining the bridgehead, ruining Belarus if any conflict had started. Or let’s support Lukashenka who wants to be a butting cow and imagine that nuclear weapons remain in Belarus. For example, In contrast to gold weapons lose in value. People should maintain then, change certain parts, etc. Without Russia’s help it would be impossible to keep it in good condition. ‘Betraying’ Russia and moving to U.S., or French, or British service is also impossible, this is very expensive. Belarus is a country of honest people, it will not threaten other with nuclear weapons, as opposed to the Kremlin.
Belsat: Would Putin dare to annex Crimea if nuclear warheads remained in Ukaine? When is a threat to use of nuclear weapons put into action?
Stanislau Shushkevich: I cannot imagine any of the Ukrainian presidents, even Yanukovych, using nuclear weapons in their territory. This is suicide. And secondly, Ukraine had strategic mine nuclear weapons. Belarus had a lot of strategic and tactical nuclear weapons. One must not do it, one must not use it as an issue for blackmail! We should find solutions without nuclear weapons. There are international agreements on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
