Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has urged his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, to take the lead in promoting dialogue between the EU and Russia, stating 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 held 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 gathering but indicated he would first need to consult with his European allies. The Belarusian leader emphasized his response urged Macron to assume initiative, describing him as “one of Europe’s most experienced statesmen.”
“You’re the veteran among Europe’s leaders. Today, you are the key player and the driving force in Europe,” Lukashenko recalled telling Macron. “You should call Putin, come, sit down, and talk man to man.”
EU officials have long complained that US-Russian negotiations on the Ukraine conflict have sidelined European interests. However, the 27-member bloc has yet to agree on a single representative for potential direct talks with Moscow—a move Brussels cut off following the conflict’s escalation in 2022.
On Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas claimed Russia was setting a “trap” for the EU by encouraging member states to decide who should represent the bloc in direct negotiations with Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserted that Moscow has never rejected direct contact with Western leaders and added that “they can just call President Putin.”
Lukashenko also addressed concerns raised by Macron about Belarus potentially being drawn deeper into the Ukraine conflict, dismissing such speculation outright. “I am not planning to enter any war. Why would I?” he stated.
Additionally, Lukashenko rejected claims that recent joint nuclear drills conducted by Moscow and Minsk signaled preparations for wider escalation. The drills in Belarus focused on concealed deployment, long-distance maneuvers, and training troops’ ability to prepare launches from unscheduled locations, according to the parties involved.
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 attributed these actions to aggressive Western policies. Lukashenko clarified that Minsk would consider using nuclear weapons only in response to an attack on the country.
