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In an October 2024 interview with Izvestia, a major Russian daily, Lukashenko addressed various political topics, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and the status of the BRICS coalition. However, the most striking commentary emerged when he discussed the future of the Union State. Initially cautious in tone, Lukashenko emphasized the necessity of building a partnership "from the foundation," yet he quickly shifted gears to assert Belarus's status as a sovereign nation with independent interests.