(Dan Tri) – Moscow has rejected the ceasefire proposal put forward by Belarus, and accused the US and the West of trying to weaken Russia.
Reactions of Russia and Ukraine to Belarus’s ceasefire proposal
In his annual speech to the National Assembly and the Government on March 31, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko called on all parties involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict to `immediately cease fire`.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (Photo: Reuters).
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russia cannot accept the ceasefire proposal in Ukraine at this time.
On the Ukrainian side, Mr. Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, also rejected the Belarusian President’s proposal for a ceasefire.
`The ceasefire will mean that the Russian army can stay in the territories occupied by this force. This is completely unacceptable. The Ukrainian army has the right to move troops and equipment
Russia’s new foreign policy strategy
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed Russia’s new foreign policy strategy on March 31 (Photo: Tass).
Also on March 31, President Vladimir Putin signed Russia’s new foreign policy strategy, which sets the goal of eliminating the dominance of Western countries in the international arena.
`The Russian Federation aims to eliminate all traces of the dominance of the United States and other unfriendly countries in the international arena,` the strategic document called the Concept of Russian Foreign Policy reads.
In the above policy, Russia also emphasized the need for a `multipolar world` and accused the US of having `unfriendly policies aimed at Russia, thereby becoming the biggest risk to security.`
`The policy of weakening Russia by all means from the US and the West can be considered a new form of hybrid war,` the above document stated, and explained that hybrid war can be understood as a form of conflict.
Russia also emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation with traditional partners such as China and India, as well as friendly countries in Asia and Europe.
However, in the recently approved foreign policy strategy, the Russian Foreign Ministry affirmed that Moscow `does not consider itself an enemy nor isolate itself from the West`.
`The Russian Federation is ready for dialogue and cooperation on this basis,` the Russian Foreign Policy Concept document emphasized.
The US and Western countries have not yet commented on Russia’s new foreign strategy.