Lukashenko: I Am in the Same Team with Putin

The politician called the Russian leader a close friend believing they are "tightly" driven into one team. Alexander Lukashenko considers Russian President Vladimir Putin to be his friend and plays with him on the same team both in sports and in politics. He stated this in an interview on the Russia-1 TV channel, TASS reported. “Yes, I do consider him to be my friend and this (2020) year he confirmed that he is not only my friend, but a friend of the Belarusian people as well. Sincerely,” Lukashenko stressed. At the same time, he found it difficult naming those whom he still considers being friends, and announced many opponents. Answering the question whether he plays hockey with Putin in one or different teams, Lukashenko noted that he is in the same team with the Russian leader not only on the sports ground, but also in politics. “We have already been driven into one team,” the Belarusian politician added. Lukashenko also considers Putin a close person and can argue with him during a telephone conversation. During the interview, he said that he holds no grudge against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, "but he would not greet him from the knee." Recall, Lukashenko expressed his readiness to resume relations with Ukraine, despite Kiev’s "unfriendly statements".