Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has urged his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, to take the lead in promoting dialogue between the EU and Russia, asserting that the Ukraine conflict must be resolved through direct talks rather than further escalation.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Lukashenko revealed details of a phone call with Macron on May 24, during which he proposed a meeting in Minsk involving himself, the French president, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Lukashenko, Macron did not rule out such a meeting but stated he would first need to consult with his European allies.
The Belarusian leader described Macron as one of Europe’s most experienced statesmen, saying: “You’re the veteran among Europe’s leaders. Today, you are the key player and the driving force in Europe,” he recalled telling Macron. “You should call Putin, come, sit down, and talk man to man.”
EU officials have for months complained that US-Russian negotiations on the Ukraine conflict have left European nations sidelined. However, the 27-member bloc has yet to agree on a single representative for possible direct talks with Moscow, which Brussels cut off after the escalation of the conflict in 2022.
On Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas claimed that Russia was setting a “trap” for the EU by encouraging member states to decide who should represent the bloc in direct negotiations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has maintained that Moscow never rejected direct contact with Western leaders and that “they can just call President Putin.”
Lukashenko also dismissed concerns that Belarus might be drawn deeper into the Ukraine conflict, stating: “I am not planning to enter any war. Why would I?” He further rejected claims that recent joint nuclear drills conducted by Moscow and Minsk signaled preparations for wider escalation. The drills, as described by the sides, focused on concealed deployment, long-distance maneuvers and training troops’ ability to prepare for launches from unscheduled locations. Russia stationed nuclear weapons in Belarus in 2023 following repeated requests from Minsk and deployed its nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile system there last year. The Belarusian leadership cited aggressive Western policies as the reason for these deployments.
According to Lukashenko, Minsk would consider using nuclear weapons only in the event of an attack on the country.
