Lukashenka “strongly objects” to Ukraine’s federalization

Federalization would "split the country" and eventually "destroy the Ukrainian state,” said the head of the Belarusan state speaking on Russia's NTV television channel on April 13.

“If you want to preserve Ukraine as a single state, and I want to see Ukraine as an integral monolithic and unified state very much, we should not go ahead with federalization. It’s going to split the country in future and will eventually destroy the Ukrainian state,” Lukashenka said in the interview, the extracts of which have been published by Belarusan official media.

“I do not even want to discuss this subject. I am categorically against federalization because I am for a single and unified Ukraine,” the Belarusan president stressed, noting it was dangerous to push Ukraine towards federalization.

“It is dangerous both for Belarus and Russia and the West. People there (in Ukraine) will never come to terms with that. Just never,” the Belarusan leader explained. "I am for a single and unified Ukraine," he added.

Earlier he said that Belarus is ready to welcome refugees from Ukraine if necessary. “We draw definite conclusions that refugees may come to our country as there are already some thousands of names on the lists (of those who already are in Belarus),” ITAR-TASS quoted Lukashenka saying.