Lukashenko denies presence of North Korean troops in Russia

The Belarusian leader accused the West of inflating facts to pressure EU and NATO and called for unconditional negotiations.

Transcript

00:00Following reports of North Korean troops deployed in Russia, Belarus' leader said no one had

00:06seen any Pyongyang soldiers on the front line with Ukraine, accusing the West of inflating

00:11the fact which may lead to escalation.

00:13Belarus has been a staunch supporter of Russia since Alexander Lukashenko, dubbed Europe's

00:18last dictator, came into power decades ago.

00:20The country has allowed Moscow's troops to be stationed within their border, acting as

00:25a staging area for the Russian invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

00:28We need this in Europe, we don't need it.

00:32It's neither Russia, nor Ukraine, nor us, nor you, the Eurasian continent, don't need it.

00:39But the danger is great.

00:42Therefore, today, before introducing some concepts from one side or the other, and, as they call

00:51it, a plan of victory, or something else, all this is possible, even stupidity.

00:58But we need to sit down at the negotiating table, without preconditions.

01:04Also speaking at the event, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Moscow

01:09planned to sign a strategic treaty with Iran in the near future.

01:13We will welcome their involvement.

01:15A serious factor in strengthening Russian-Iranian relations will be the upcoming agreement on

01:22comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and Iran.

01:27The agreement, as I said, is being prepared to be signed in the near future.

01:31It will confirm the desire of the parties for closer cooperation in the field of defence

01:36and for cooperation in the interests of peace and security at the regional and global level.

01:44Moscow has not provided any evidence to back its claims of NATO or the West's intention

01:49to act aggressively towards Russia or its troops.

01:52One of the Kremlin's main alleged reasons for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in

01:57early 2022.