The Belarusian president says he has to engage in dialogue with the US even though he is not their favorite son

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has told RT's Rick Sanchez that he knows the West wants him out of power, but still negotiates with the US because it's in his country's economic interests.

Minsk and Washington have held several rounds of talks this year, discussing what US President Donald Trump has called "a big deal" aimed at normalizing relations between the two nations. They focus on the release of prisoners, lifting sanctions, and other economic issues. In March, Lukashenko pardoned 123 people convicted over "espionage, terrorist and extremist activities" as part of the process.

In an interview set to be aired on Monday, the Belarusian leader stressed that "the real politics of the West has been known to us for a long time. No matter what negotiations the West conducts with me, I understand perfectly well that I'm not their favorite son."

"They would gladly chew me up and spit me out. I understand this very well, but even in such a situation, not because I am Lukashenko, but because I am the president of this country and of the Belarusian people, I'm forced to act in accordance with the interests of the people, not my own interests," he said.

Belarus produces "more than half of our material resources and services and sell them in foreign markets. We have an open economy, so we must recognize our interests in the West, in Russia, in China and in Africa," Lukashenko explained.

He added that he is "conducting dialogue with the Americans, not against Russia or China."

Lukashenko said he told the US representatives from the start: "Guys, Russia and China are not just long-term partners. They are our friends. When you impose sanctions on us, the Americans and Europeans, China and Russia opened their doors to us. We were basically saved because of that."

Watch the full interview on RT on Monday at 8:30 AM Moscow time.

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(RT.com)