Oleh Bilokolos: U.S. Warned Presumptuous ‘Hotheads’ In Minsk And Moscow
13- 23.06.2023, 21:14
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The answer to provocations will be devastating.
The Defense Intelligence of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry stated that Russia had practiced missile launches at Germany and Poland from Belarus. What does the Kremlin achieve by such provocations using the Minsk regime?
The Charter97.org website talked about this with Oleh Bilokolos, the expert on foreign and security policy of the Maidan of Foreign Affairs Foundation, ex-adviser of the Ukrainian Embassy in Canada and Kenya.
— I absolutely agree with the assessments of the Ukrainian military intelligence. I would like to add that in the last few days we have heard several statements from official representatives of the Russian side about various threats, and this can be regarded as blackmail. One of the messages of the Russian Federation is directed precisely towards the United States.
I mean the statement about the modernization of the so-called “Nuclear Triad”. Russia's refusal to hold consultations on the U.S.-Russian Arms Control Treaty, which ends in 2026. The Russian Federation motivates this by the fact that until the United States stops helping Ukraine, no negotiations are possible.
In addition to this, we have heard statements-threats about fiber-optic communications that connect the countries of the West.
Information about the development of missile launches is in line with the current policy of Russia, which sees international military technical assistance to Ukraine. The Russian Federation considers this one of the key factors that affects the course of hostilities. In this regard, by all possible means, provocations, informational and psychological operations, they are trying to influence the public, the establishment of Western countries. The Kremlin claims that aid to Ukraine is escalating. In general, this absolutely fits into the logic of today's actions of the Russian Federation.
— Recently, the topic of moving Russian nuclear weapons to Belarus has been actively discussed. American historian Yury Felshtinsky believes that the risk of a nuclear strike from Belarus on Europe is so great that it requires a preventive solution to the deadly threat that has arisen. What could the West do in this situation?
— There is a risk, but I do not presume to say how high it is due to the fact that I do not have all the information. I expect next month's NATO summit in Vilnius to make a firm statement that NATO countries will not accept Russian blackmail. We are ready to defend our interests and positions in all possible ways. Only a tough response can stop presumptuous dictators.
— The U.S. Senate registered a resolution that proposes to recognize the use of nuclear weapons by Russia against Ukraine as an attack on NATO countries. What fate awaits the regimes of Lukashenka and Putin if they decide to use nuclear weapons?
— Such actions of Minsk and Moscow do not go unnoticed by the United States and other NATO countries. It is no coincidence that U.S. lawmakers are concerned about the Kremlin's aggressive and adventurous course. The resolution is an element of a tough response, which should warn presumptuous “hot heads” both in Russia and Belarus that “guys, don't joke, because the answer will be devastating.”
Naturally, a devastating response suggests a serious range of impact that both of these regimes can expect if they think about using weapons of mass destruction or even threaten to use them. This, in general, is a blatant violation of all the fundamental norms of international law and the UN Charter, which, by the way, the Kremlin constantly likes to refer to.
— You said about a serious spectrum of influence. Will it consist only of economic sanctions, or does it mean military actions as well?
— Now there are discussions underway, including on this issue. I am of the opinion that economic instruments alone cannot stop aggression.
Repeatedly in history, we have seen attempts to stop aggression through sanctions, but this ended unsuccessfully. The aggressors understand only the answer that is adequate to their behavior.
I hope that the warning will contain not only economic sanctions, but also other measures. Including those that are now being discussed in the U.S. Senate.
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