Lukashenko pledges to back Ukrainians if Poland attacks Ukraine

MINSK. Oct 4 (Interfax) - The Republic of Belarus will back the Ukrainians if Poland "invades Ukraine," Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said when speaking during his visit to the Brest region on Friday.

"As soon as the Poles invade Ukraine and try to snatch the west [of the country], we will be backing the Ukrainians. Because we understand that we are the next," Lukashenko said, as quoted by Belarus' state-run news agency the BelTA.

Warsaw's desire to "grab" the western part of Ukraine is in the core of Poland's claims, he said.

"[Poland wants] both western Belarus and western Ukraine. And to dominate there. This is unacceptable for us," Lukashenko said.