Belarusian leader Oleksandr Lukashenko sent “peaceful wishes” to Ukraine on Wednesday as the country celebrates its independence, even as he allowed Russia to attack it from Belarusian territory, Reuters reported.

In an unexpected address on the 31st anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union, Lukashenko wished Ukrainians “a peaceful sky, tolerance, courage, strength and success in restoring a dignified life.”

Lukashenko allowed Russian troops to attack Ukraine from his country’s territory on the first day of the invasion, allowing Russian forces to advance on Kyiv. Russian troops began arriving in Belarus in January for what Minsk and Moscow called “joint military exercises” in February.

“I am convinced that today’s disputes will not be able to destroy the centuries-old foundation of sincere and good relations between the peoples of our neighboring countries,” Lukashenko said in a statement released on Wednesday.

His comments are all the more unexpected because he previously justified the Russian invasion by saying that Ukraine was preparing to attack Belarus on the very day the “special forces operation” began on February 24, and made numerous aggressive statements against Belarus. neighboring country and the West.

Ukraine rejects Lukashenka’s “cynical” message

Mykhailo Podolyak, one of President Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s advisers, strongly rejected Lukashenko’s wishes in a post on his Twitter page.

“Lukashenko really believes that the world does not notice his participation in crimes against Ukraine,” he wrote.

“That’s why he cynically wishes us a peaceful sky, allowing deadly missiles to hit us,” he added, implying that Lukashenko allowed Russian forces to fire missiles at Ukraine from his country’s territory.

At the end of June, Lukashenko also announced that Russia would supply Belarus with Iskander-M missile systems capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Follow the latest events of the 182nd day of the war in Ukraine LIVETEXT on HOTNEWS.RO.