There is no war between peoples in Ukraine, but there are unscrupulous politicians, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said as he opened the 23rd International Festival of Arts Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk.

“There is no war between peoples today. People in Ukraine do not fight with Belarusians, Russians and even with Ukrainians. There are worthless, unprincipled politicians who underestimated this unity and its importance. A rift emerged and our adversaries and enemies took advantage of it.
They are trying to pit peoples against each other. They are trying to foment a fratricidal war and mire the core of the Slavonic community – Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians – into this funnel, this whirlpool.
It should never happen. The Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk is a pillar and guarantee of the unity of Slavonic peoples.
People of art, cultural figures can reach out to people faster than politicians and the military,” the President said.