TSAMTO, December 2. Belarus needs Russian S-400 or S-500 anti-aircraft missile systems for effective protection against a missile attack, President of the Republic Alexander Lukashenko said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
To the clarifying question when these systems can be delivered to Belarus, A. Lukashenko noted: "President Putin will make this decision."
"We are not just ready (for deliveries - ed.), we have justified it. You understand that the S-400 or S-500 are very expensive systems. And let's be honest, there are no unnecessary systems in Russia today: they have something to cover," the president said, specifying that the S-400 air defense system is already in Belarus, in the training center.
"We have created these centers. This is already in the development of this program. What are the centers for? In order for us to study the new weapons that have now appeared in Russia. Let's say the Iskander tactical missile system. We have a Polonaise multiple launch rocket system, but Iskander is a long-range weapon, it should be (with us - Ed.)," he said.
According to A.Lukashenko, "before "it should be", it is necessary to teach people, to teach this." "We have created a training center for S-400. Russia has supplied S-400 equipment to this center, we need to see it, study it," he said. "I want to ask the president (Putin - ed.) that he stay here, this complex," the President of Belarus told RIA Novosti, specifying that the complex is combat-ready.