Lukashenko urges Russia-led CSTO military alliance to unite against West

div classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodivpReuters – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday urged other members of a Russiandominated military alliance to stand united, and accused the West of hoping to prolong the conflict in Ukraine to try to weaken Russia as much as possible.p

pLukashenko, speaking at a summit of the leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation CSTO in Moscow, said “hellish sanctions” against his country and Russia could have been avoided if the group had spoken with one voice.pdivdivdiv classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodiv

p“Without a united front, the collective West will build up pressure on the postSoviet space,” Lukashenko said in televised opening remarks, addressing Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. p

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pp Reporting by Reuters Editing by Kevin Liffeyp

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