The self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexandr Lukashenka, said that he de facto recognized the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and the annexation of Crimea by Russia and, if necessary, he will sign a corresponding decree.

According to Lukashenka, the official recognition "would not add anything to Luhansk, Donetsk, or Crimea."

"If Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk need food, bricks, cement, rebuilding, etc., we will help them. If necessary, we will recognize them. It does not make sense today, though. What is the point? It does not matter if I recognize them publicly or not. We actually cooperate with them," Lukashenka said in an interview with AFP.

He clarified, "de facto, we recognized Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk because we cooperate with them."

"If necessary, I will sign the decree. If necessary... Like people say today: "Will Lukashenka send his troops to Ukraine or not?"... We are simply not needed there now. The same situation is with Luhansk, Donetsk, and Crimea," he added.

So-called LPR and DPR, Russian terrorist organizations, are recognized by Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Syria, and DPRK.

Ukraine severed diplomatic relations with Syria and North Korea in response to their recognition of the so-called "LPR/DPR" "independence."

Read also - Enough Is Enough. Time for Ukraine to Cut Ties with Belarus.