Russia should join its smaller neighbor Belarus rather than forcing Minsk to join Moscow’s orbit, said Alexander Lukashenko.

Moscow and Minsk are members of a bilateral “union state” and have in recent months discussed a project for even deeper ties.

“The simplest option that Russia and Belarus will accept in terms of a union state: You join Belarus. Why are some of you inviting us to join Russia? Why aren’t you considering other possibility? Take a listen: Russia is a part of Belarus”, - said the President of Belarus.

He warned that a forceful attempt to make Belarus a part of Russia could trigger a war with the West.