Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko believes the conflict in Ukraine is nearing its end. He made this statement as he was talking to reporters in Bishkek, according to a BelTA correspondent.
“I believe in this more than ever,” the head of state said.
The president also cautioned: “However, this is a war. At any moment, an unforeseen development can overturn the entire situation. That is the nature of war.”
The head of state again referenced the peace plan proposals of the U.S. president’s team, which have been largely accepted. “I think both the Europeans [the European Union] and the Ukrainians will understand that this is necessary. Why should the Europeans resist? The size of the army [in Ukraine] is proposed to be limited to 600,000. The Europeans want 800,000. Are you serious? How to maintain an army of 600,000? Poland, with its stronger economy, maintains an army of 200,000. Eight hundred thousand! Can you imagine, even vast Russia has an army of almost that size!” he remarked.
“Well, people like that [in the EU] are going out of their way trying to find fault with it. So, the issue is not the content of this draft peace plan from the European perspective. The issue is that they do not want this peace. I simply do not understand why they need a war. They will not win it. They say the British are not acting in good faith. I think they will come to their senses,” stated Aleksandr Lukashenko.
In response to a question about his readiness to mediate a peace process, the Belarusian president stated: “I am not fond of any kind of mediation. What kind of mediator could I be? We are considered the ‘aggressors,’ together with Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin]. As you have heard, everyone agrees to negotiate in Belarus and to cooperate with Belarus except for Volodya Zelensky. What have I done to offend him? That is precisely why I am not seeking this role.”
“As I stated yesterday, if this is necessary (and now is the perfect time to correct the past shortcomings of the Normandy Format, when the Europeans participated without the U.S.), then the most reasonable course of action is to return to the 2015 negotiation framework. If you agree, then you are more than welcome to do so,” the Belarusian leader added.
The U.S. peace plan to resolve the conflict in Ukraine must spell out every detail, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko told journalists.
“Yesterday we had a lengthy discussion on this topic with Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin]. As I understand it, both he and I see this as a preliminary version, if I may put it that way, an unofficial one. Once it is transmitted to the Russians through official channels, then we can talk about specific matters,” the Belarusian leader said. “But today I’ve said that the plan is workable. And Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] acknowledges that it provides a good basis for negotiations.”
At the same time, the head of state pointed out that the plan was drafted hastily: “I hope the Trump team will not take offense, but the plan was prepared in haste. I wouldn't say it was written entirely offhand, but in a hurry. It needs to be presented in a clear and concise way, with every detail spelled out precisely. If territorial issues are to be resolved, then everything must be specified down to the meter, the kilometer. It must include specifying the exact location of troops, who should be present and who should not.”
“Everything must be detailed to the last point. Broad interpretation would later allow each side to construe certain provisions in its own way. That is why everything must be absolutely specific,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.
According to him, overall the Americans have carried out tremendous work. Aleksandr Lukashenko also commented on remarks by experts and journalists who claim that the United States, for example, took Russia’s demands into account, while Ukraine’s were not. In this regard, the president noted that Donald Trump not only met with Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, but also held numerous meetings with Vladimir Zelensky and European leaders.
“Do you think they just sat down for tea? Trump and his team carried out thorough, substantive work: with the Ukrainians, with the Europeans, and with the Russians. Credit must be given to Trump in this regard. So to say that Russia’s views and positions were taken into account, while Ukraine’s were not, is simply wrong,” the president said.
He noted that the issue lies elsewhere: Russia proved more willing to negotiate than Ukraine. “That must be acknowledged. And only then should one dig deeper,” the head of state advised.
Speaking about Vladimir Zelensky, Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that if he had followed advice at the start of the hostilities, the current situation would never have arisen. “Had Ukraine implemented the Minsk agreements, there would have been no war. Ukraine would have remained within the borders it desires, those of 1991. But if Volodya Zelensky wants to face reality, I will once again, having been right back then, not give advice but simply state what I see. If you want Ukraine to remain within its current borders (given the realities on the front), you must negotiate. Do not undermine the negotiation process,” the Belarusian leader urged.
“If there are issues you cannot agree on… From this proposal I did not see anything that could not be agreed upon. If, for example, there is some demilitarized zone, fragments here and there in Donbass, then leave that for later. But stop the war, where other people’s children are dying. That is Zelensky’s main problem. He must keep this in mind. And most importantly, he will lose the country,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The president did not rule out that Vladimir Zelensky might still find a place in the world for himself and his family. “But what will Ukrainians do? There are millions of people. So think, based on the real situation, how to preserve what you have. You have everything: access to the sea, Odessa, Nikolaev. But that may be lost in a moment. Therefore everything must be weighed carefully, and a balanced decision taken. And Trump is right here, when he presses both sides,” the Belarusian leader stated.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also noted that the European Union is currently playing a negative role. “This war must be stopped. I think there will be no winner. That would be a catastrophe. And if there is a winner, it will not be the European Union, especially if the United States turns away from them,” the head of state said.
“That is my off-the-cuff view. We will continue to reflect on these issues. Ahead lies major, difficult work. There is much involved: the Zaporozhie [nuclear power] plant, Russia’s gold and foreign currency reserves… Everything has been taken into account [in the plan], including U.S. interests. Trump’s touch as an economist is evident there. I will not go into specifics,” the president concluded.