⁍ Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko told U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a phone call that Belarus and Russia were ready to respond jointly to external threats.
⁍ Lukashenko is facing the prospect of a national strike that could begin on Monday following an ultimatum set by opposition leaders.
⁍ Lukashenko has shown no sign he will heed the ultimatum and step down.
– Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko told US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a phone call on Saturday that Belarus and Russia were ready to respond jointly to external threats, Russian agencies quoted Belarus state media as saying. Lukashenko, who is holding on to power despite major protests in recent weeks calling for him to resign, is facing the prospect of a national strike that could begin on Monday following an ultimatum set by opposition leaders. Protests against his 26-year rule began following an Aug. 9 election victory his opponents say was rigged. Lukashenko had sought to mend fences with the West in recent years. But the crisis after the disputed election pushed Lukashenko back closer to traditional ally Russia. A US State Department spokesperson confirmed Pompeo’s call on Saturday. “The Secretary called for the full release and immediate departure from Belarus of wrongfully detained US citizen Vitali Shkliarov and reaffirmed US support for the democratic aspirations of the people of Belarus,” the spokesperson said in a statement, per Reuters.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-belarus-election-usa/belarus-and-russia-will-respond-to-external-threats-lukashenko-tells-pompeo-agencies-idUSKBN2790OA