MINSK, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Russia is categorically against any peacekeeping forces from European states in Ukraine, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said in an interview with American blogger Mario Nawfal in Minsk on Thursday.
The Belarusian leader said Russia will never agree to EU peacekeeping forces in Ukraine. "At least, this is Russia's position today. Especially since the leadership of the European Union, primarily Germany and France, is taking a very aggressive position at the moment," Lukashenko said.
Lukashenko also said that during his latest contacts with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the Russia leader confirmed his readiness for negotiations to resolve the situation in Ukraine, including with the Ukrainian side. No one will resolve Ukraine's issues without Ukraine, the Belarusian President stressed.
Touching on a possible US-Ukraine deal on rare earth metals, Lukashenko said this "deal may be alarming for Russia and most likely is alarming". This could be alarming if Russia feels that these agreements will go beyond economic relations, he added.
