In response to comments by Western opponents, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said the latter is in good health and “in the best condition ever”, in an interview with Japan’s TBS TV channel.
Lukashenko added in a recording of the interview published by the official “Belta” news agency in Belarus: “He and I do not meet as just two presidents, we have a friendly friendship. I am fully acquainted with every detail of it to the fullest extent, whether official or personal.”
Russia used the territory of Belarus as a springboard for the attack on Ukraine on February 24.
Western leaders pointed out that Putin miscalculated the cost of launching a military attack on Ukraine, as his forces suffered heavy losses and faltered significantly despite their apparent superiority over their opponent.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Putin was “irrational” and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte described him as “completely paranoid”.
But Lukashenko denied any indication that Putin, 69, is not in the prime of his power.
He told his interlocutor in the interview: “You and the West need to get this nonsense and this fantasy out of your head. Putin is completely competent. He is absolutely at his best. He is a completely adult in good physical health. He is an athlete.”
“As they say here: He will witness all our funerals,” he added.
