Lukashenko Hopes for Reunion of Russian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian Peoples

On Easter Sunday (Orthodox Easter), amid the solemnity and hope that marks the occasion, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko articulated a vision steeped in history and spirituality.

He expressed a fervent hope for the reunification of the peoples of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine—a sentiment that he conveyed while attending a festive service near the Dnieper River, an age-old symbol of connection for the Slavic nations.

Symbolic Setting Enhances Easter Message

During his visit to a church by the Dnieper, Lukashenko emphasized the river’s historical role in uniting the three Slavic peoples: Russians, Belarusians, and Ukrainians.

“I am absolutely convinced that through our prayers, we will return to those times when our peoples were together,” Lukashenko told the state news agency BelTA.

Contrasting Views from Ukraine

The Belarusian leader’s remarks stood in stark contrast to those of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who, speaking from the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, depicted a different vision marked by national resilience and divine favor.

Zelensky’s bold assertion that “God wears a shoulder patch with the Ukrainian flag” was a poignant emblem of Ukraine’s enduring spirit and sovereignty, juxtaposed with his reference to Russia as a “former neighbor who has distanced itself from the Ukrainian side for centuries.”