Editing Alexander Lukashenko (section)

====Russia====
{{Further|Belarus–Russia relations|Union State}}
[[File:Vladimir Putin 14 May 2002-8.jpg|thumb|right|With Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]] during a news conference in 2002]]

In the 1990s, Lukashenko and the then-Russian president [[Boris Yeltsin]] envisaged the formation of a Union State. Yeltsin suffered from poor health and alcoholism, which induced Lukashenko into thinking that he would lead both states. But After Yeltsin anointed Putin as his successor, Lukashenko stalled the merger.<ref name="Mirovalev"/>

Lukashenko's relationship with Russia, once his powerful ally and vocal supporter, has significantly deteriorated. The run-up to the [[2010 Belarusian presidential election]] was marked by a series of Russian media attacks on Lukashenko.<ref name="rferl1" /> Throughout July state-controlled channel [[NTV (Russia)|NTV]] broadcast a multi-part documentary entitled "The Godfather" highlighting the suspicious disappearance of the opposition leaders [[Yury Zacharanka]] and [[Viktar Hanchar]], businessman [[Anatol Krasouski]] and journalist [[Dzmitry Zavadski]] during the late 1990s.<ref>RFE/RL. [http://www.rferl.org/content/Is_Lukashenka_In_The_Kremlins_Crosshairs/2094771.html Is Lukashenka In The Kremlin's Crosshairs?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220427/http://www.rferl.org/content/Is_Lukashenka_In_The_Kremlins_Crosshairs/2094771.html |date=3 March 2016 }}. (8 July 2010).</ref> Lukashenko called the media attack "dirty propaganda".<ref>RFE/RL. [http://www.rferl.org/content/Lukashenka_Calls_Russian_Media_Attacks_Dirty_Propoganda/2103572.html Lukashenka Calls Russian Media Attacks 'Dirty Propaganda' ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921095319/http://www.rferl.org/content/Lukashenka_Calls_Russian_Media_Attacks_Dirty_Propoganda/2103572.html |date=21 September 2016 }}. (29 July 2010).</ref>
[[File:Mishustin and Lukashenko (2020-09-03) 01.jpg|thumb|Lukashenko with Russian prime minister [[Mikhail Mishustin]] in 2020]]
Despite a historically good relationship with Russia, tensions between Lukashenko and the Russian government started showing in 2020.<ref name="strained">{{Cite news|title=Lukashenka Accuses Moscow Of Pressuring Belarus Into Russian Merger|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/lukashenka-belarus-accuses-russia-pressuring-merger/30396235.html|access-date=9 August 2020|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=25 January 2020 |archive-date=29 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029195853/https://www.rferl.org/a/lukashenka-belarus-accuses-russia-pressuring-merger/30396235.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="tensions">{{Cite web|date=31 July 2020|title=Belarus: Lukashenko accuses Russian mercenaries, critics of plotting attack|url=https://www.dw.com/en/belarus-lukashenko-accuses-russian-mercenaries-critics-of-plotting-attack/a-54398681|access-date=9 August 2020|website=Deutsche Welle|archive-date=8 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808054704/https://www.dw.com/en/belarus-lukashenko-accuses-russian-mercenaries-critics-of-plotting-attack/a-54398681|url-status=live}}</ref> On 24 January 2020, Lukashenko publicly accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of trying to make Belarus a part of Russia.<ref name="strained" /> This led to Russia cutting economic subsidies for Belarus.<ref name="cuts">{{Cite web|title=Russia warns Belarus will pay price for contractors' arrests|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/europe/russia-warns-belarus-will-pay-price-for-contractors-arrests-1.640179|access-date=9 August 2020|website=Stars and Stripes|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809172744/https://www.stripes.com/news/europe/russia-warns-belarus-will-pay-price-for-contractors-arrests-1.640179|url-status=dead}}</ref> In July 2020, the relationship between Belarus and Russia was described as "strained" after 33 Russian military contractors were arrested in Minsk.<ref name="tensions" />

Lukashenko afterwards accused Russia of collaborating with opposition activist [[Siarhei Tsikhanouski]] and trying to cover up an attempt to send 200 fighters from a private Russian military firm known as the [[Wagner Group]] into Belarus on a mission to destabilize the country ahead of its 9 August presidential election.<ref>{{cite news|date=4 August 2020|title=Belarus ruler Lukashenko says Russia lying over 'mercenaries'|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53648640|access-date=8 August 2020|archive-date=17 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817145300/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53648640|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Belarusian President Accuses Russia Of Trying To Cover Up Vagner Group Election Plot|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-diplomats-meet-detained-vagner-contractors-in-minsk-jail/30761549.html|access-date=9 August 2020|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=August 2020 |archive-date=8 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808230911/https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-diplomats-meet-detained-vagner-contractors-in-minsk-jail/30761549.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 5 August 2020, Russia's security chief Dmitry Medvedev warned Belarus to release the contractors.<ref name="cuts" /> Lukashenko also claimed Russia was lying about its attempts to use the Wagner Group to influence the upcoming election.<ref>{{Cite news|date=4 August 2020|title=Belarus ruler says Russia lying over 'mercenaries'|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53648640|access-date=9 August 2020|archive-date=17 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817145300/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53648640|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:CSTO Summit 2022 02.jpg|thumb|Meeting of the Russian-led military alliance, [[Collective Security Treaty Organization]] (CSTO), in Moscow on 16 May 2022]]
On 11 November 2021, Lukashenko raised the possibility of interrupting the [[Yamal–Europe pipeline]] carrying [[Russia in the European energy sector|Russian gas]] to the European Union if the bloc imposes further sanctions on Belarus.<ref name="gas">{{cite news |title=Belarus Warns Against New EU Sanctions, Says Could Cut Gas |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/11/11/belarus-warns-against-new-eu-sanctions-says-could-cut-gas-a75532 |work=[[The Moscow Times]] |date=11 November 2021 |access-date=13 November 2021 |archive-date=11 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111153438/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/11/11/belarus-warns-against-new-eu-sanctions-says-could-cut-gas-a75532 |url-status=live }}</ref>  [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]] said that Lukashenko had not consulted him before raising the possibility of stopping gas deliveries coming from Russia to the EU via a pipeline through Belarus, adding that such a move would risk harming ties between Belarus and Russia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Putin chides Lukashenko over threat to cut off gas to EU |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/putin-lukashenko-gas-supplies-crisis-migration/ |work=Politico |date=13 November 2021 |access-date=13 November 2021 |archive-date=21 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121163545/https://www.politico.eu/article/putin-lukashenko-gas-supplies-crisis-migration/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2022, Lukashenko permitted Russian forces to stage part of the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|invasion of Ukraine]] from Belarusian territory.<ref>{{cite news |author-last1=Lister |author-first1=Tim |author-last2=Kesa |author-first2=Julia |title=Ukraine says it was attacked through Russian, Belarus and Crimea borders |url=https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-23-22/h_82bf44af2f01ad57f81c0760c6cb697c |access-date=2 March 2022 |work=[[CNN]] |date=24 February 2022 |archive-date=24 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224071121/https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-23-22/h_82bf44af2f01ad57f81c0760c6cb697c |url-status=live }}</ref> Commenting on the war in Ukraine Lukashenko has said that he didn't expect the conflict “drag on this way.”<ref>{{cite news |url= https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-aab9f48d6c4941d2f4d4b5d3fa8ed751 |title= 'Seemed like goodbye': Mariupol defenders make their stand |work= AP |date= 5 May 2022 |access-date= 6 May 2022 |archive-date= 11 May 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220511192916/https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-aab9f48d6c4941d2f4d4b5d3fa8ed751 |url-status= live }}</ref> In June 2023, Lukashenko claimed that "the only mistake we made’ was not finishing off Ukraine with Russia in 2014".<ref>{{cite web |title=Belarus' Lukashenko: 'The only mistake we made' was not finishing off Ukraine with Russia in 2014 |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/belarus-alexander-lukashenko-mistake-not-invade-ukraine-russia-2014-vladimir-putin/ |website=[[Politico]] |date=2 June 2023 |access-date=29 January 2024 |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129205012/https://www.politico.eu/article/belarus-alexander-lukashenko-mistake-not-invade-ukraine-russia-2014-vladimir-putin/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2024, Lukashenko urged both Russia and Ukraine to start [[Peace negotiations in the Russian invasion of Ukraine|peace negotiations]], saying in an interview with Russian state television: "Neither the Ukrainian people, nor the Russians, nor the Belarusians need it. It’s them in the West, who need [the war]."<ref>{{cite news |title=Kremlin ally Belarus calls for peace in Russia-Ukraine 'scuffle' |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/belarus-aleksandr-lukashenko-russia-vladimir-putin-ukraine-war-peace-scuffle/ |work=Politico |date=15 August 2024}}</ref> He accused the West of supporting Ukraine's [[August 2024 Kursk Oblast incursion|incursion into the Kursk region]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Lukashenko urges Russia and Ukraine to end war as Kursk incursion continues |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/lukashenko-urges-russia-and-ukraine-to-end-war-as-kursk-incursion-continues/ |work=Euractiv |date=16 August 2024}}</ref>