Belarus called “co-aggressor” in the conflict in Ukraine

The European Union is convinced that Belarus is a “co-aggressor” in the conflict situation in Ukraine, RIA Novosti reports, citing an EU statement.

As, in particular, the document states, what is happening in Ukraine “is a flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter and undermines European and world security and stability.”

The European Union believes that “Russia, with the participation of the regime of (President Alexander) Lukashenko in Belarus as a co-aggressor, bears full responsibility” for the current events in Ukraine.

At the same time, the authorities of Belarus have repeatedly stated that not a single Belarusian soldier, not a single piece of military equipment is involved in the Russian military operation in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the international rating agency Fitch Ratings has downgraded Belarus’ long-term foreign currency default rating to ‘CCC’ from ‘B’, TASS notes.

Fitch warns that new sanctions and the possibility of additional measures related to Belarus’ role in Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, along with close economic and financial ties with Russia, pose significant threats to macro-financial stability and increase uncertainty about the country’s ability to meet its external obligations. .

In addition, the rating agency is not sure that Russia is ready to provide Belarus with the financial support necessary, according to the agency, to redeem Eurobonds in 2023.

Recall that on February 21, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), and on February 24 he made an emergency appeal to the Russians and announced a special military operation in Donbass. In his speech, he stated that “circumstances require decisive action from Russia” and stressed that “Russia will not allow Ukraine to have nuclear weapons.”

In response to Russia’s actions, Western countries (USA, Canada, European Union, Great Britain, Japan) announced new, tougher sanctions against the Russian Federation, including financial and economic ones.

In particular, Russian banks fell under the sanctions, including Sberbank, VTB, Novikombank, FC Otkritie and Sovcombank, and for a number of state-owned companies it was difficult to attract foreign capital.

Later, the EU countries and the United States agreed to disconnect Russian banks that fell under sanctions from the international system of interbank transactions and information exchange SWIFT. In addition, it was decided to freeze the assets of the Bank of Russia, which will create difficulties for its use of international reserves. EU countries also pledged to take steps to limit the sale of citizenship — the so-called “golden passports” that allow wealthy Russians connected to the Russian government to become citizens of EU states and gain access to their financial systems. In addition, the European Union, the United States, Canada and a number of other countries have closed the sky for Russian aircraft.

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