Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Minsk is preparing for war in order to prevent one. He also stressed that Belarus has no plans to attack neighboring countries.

Lukashenko rejected claims that Russia could use Belarusian territory, together with Belarusian forces, to attack the Baltic states or Poland.

He had previously said Belarus is not interested in an armed conflict and intends to do everything possible to preserve peace. Lukashenko also described the country as a shared home for people of different nationalities and religions.

According to the Belarusian president, domestic stability also depends on refraining from taking what belongs to others or interfering in matters beyond the country’s interests.

In September, Chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces Pavel Muraveiko dismissed reports that Minsk was preparing an offensive against neighboring states, calling such claims completely unfounded.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry had earlier said it reached agreements with Latvia on jointly countering threats that, according to the Ukrainian side, could come from Belarus and affect Europe.