President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus called on Friday, during a speech commemorating the country’s Independence Day, for the Russian Wagner Group mercenaries to train his army. Lukashenko stated, “Unfortunately, they (Wagner mercenaries) are not here, but if their trainers come, as I have already told them, and they share their combat experience with us, we will accept this opportunity,” according to the official news agency BelTA.
He added that he is not afraid of the Wagner elements because he has known them for a long time. He continued, “These are people who fought all over the world to establish a normal civilization, and the West hates them to the core.”
Lukashenko stated that the world is facing an unprecedented crisis, but the West has not felt the need for dialogue to resolve it. He also accused the European Union and the United States of “arming Poland at an accelerating pace.”
He further said, “Thus, another hotspot is being created, and another stronghold of aggression is being established by the most aggressive country in the world, unfortunately, the most powerful, the United States.”
According to Lukashenko, the West is turning Poland into a “training ground” to be used against Belarus and Russia.
It is worth mentioning that the Belarusian president previously warned Wagner’s commander, Yevgeny Prigozhin, that his forces would be destroyed if they continued their march to the Russian capital, Moscow.
Lukashenko reportedly told Prigozhin during a phone call on Saturday, according to Belarusian state media, “In the middle of the road, you will be crushed like an insect.”
The Belarusian president also said in Tuesday’s speech, “We haven’t built any camps yet. But if they want, we will accommodate them. Pitch your tents, please. But right now, they are in Luhansk in their camps.” He added that Wagner forces offered him some abandoned land within Belarus if they need it.
