Events in Ukraine Ushered in New Historical Era, Says Lukashenko

"Amid the growing confrontation between the leading actors a new watershed between the East and the West is emerging," the Belarusian leader noted

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko Alexei Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

MINSK, April 7. /TASS/. A whole historical era came to an end with the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine. A new "watershed" is emerging between the East and the West, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said at a meeting of the Security Council on Thursday.

"There are no doubts that with the launch of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine a whole historical era came to an end. Amid the growing confrontation between the leading actors a new watershed between the East and the West is emerging," Lukashenko said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 21 declared the recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics. Russia recognized the DPR and LPR in accordance with their constitutions within the borders of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Lugansk regions that existed at the beginning of 2014. On February 24, Putin launched a special military operation in response to a request for help from the leaders of the Donbass republics with the aim of Ukraine’s demilitarization and denazification.