Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko told reporters in Minsk on Aug. 22 that Russian President Vladimir Putin had responded to suggestions that he use the new hypersonic Oreshnik missile system to attack Kiev, with a firm “Nyet.” As reported by RT, Lukashenko said that unnamed individuals in Russia “had suggested using the system against Kiev’s ‘decision-making centers,’ but Putin refused. ‘Absolutely not,’ was the Russian leader’s response, according to the Belarusian President, who added that if such a strike had taken place, ‘there would have been nothing left.’”
Belarus and Russia have reached an agreement to deploy Oreshniks on Belarus soil starting later this year. It is reasonable to believe that Lukashenko, who is very close to President Putin, was sending a friendly reminder to the West with these comments, that they should stop their dangerous provocations of Russia and their foolish procrastination on reaching a negotiated peace which provides security to all parties, not just Ukraine.
