The Ukrainian troop withdrawal has taken place after “certain work” performed by Belarus, Lukashenko said as quoted by local media, adding that Kiev pulled its forces – including the additional troops previously deployed in the border region – from the Belarusian-Ukrainian border zone.
"After certain work on our part, the Ukrainians have pulled back from the border and completely withdrawn their armed and additional forces, which they had transferred to the border, from the area of the Belarusian-Ukrainian border," Lukashenko was quoted as saying by Belta news agency.
“We have no complications with the Ukrainians now and I hope we will not have any in the future,” the Belarusian president added.
Lukashenko also mentioned that he ordered his military to reciprocate and scale down troop presence in the border area, which was increased in response to the Ukrainian troop buildup.
He also announced plans to discuss further steps concerning the Ukrainian crisis with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that it was crucial to communicate with Ukraine.
At the same time, the Belarusian president called on the country's security forces to look out for possible threats from the west, adding that the country was facing provocations.
Earlier, Belarus was forced to deploy additional air defense units near the border with Ukraine in response to a sharp uptick in Ukrainian drone activity in the region. The ensuing Ukrainian troop buildup near the border also led to Belarusian Armed Forces being placed on high alert, which included the deployment of Iskander ballistic missile systems.
The situation on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border deteriorated in late June. Ukrainian border guard spokesman Andriy Demchenko said Ukraine was reinforcing its border with Belarus, both in terms of fortification and amassing military forces. Lukashenko, in his turn, said the southern and western borders of the country were blocked following the Ukrainian activity and promised that Belarus would not allow any clashes on its border with Ukraine.