After a five-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko announced his readiness to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, purportedly in response to Zelensky’s desire to meet Putin. Lukashenko said he was prepared to discuss the situation ahead of any potential meeting between Zelensky and the Russian leader.
At the same time, the Belarusian president issued threats against Ukraine, warning Zelensky to calm down about potential strikes on the Kremlin, and saying that if Russia retaliates against the Ukrainian president’s residence, 'nothing will remain there either.' According to Lukashenko, at a recent summit in Alaska, Russia allegedly presented the United States with its proposals to resolve the war in Ukraine, and Kyiv should accept these terms if it does not want to lose the country.
Lukashenko claimed that Russian troops now control all key points in the occupied territories, making further resistance difficult for Ukraine. These statements contradict the US leadership’s view, with the US president stressing that after three years of full-scale war, Russia has failed to achieve its initial territorial objectives.
Experts believe Lukashenko’s visit to Moscow and his remarks reflect a demonstration of the Kremlin’s willingness to escalate further, an attempt to intimidate Ukraine and its leadership, and pressure on Western partners.
Besides political issues, Putin and Lukashenko also discussed economic cooperation, including the supply of Russian gas to Belarus, which analysts note could impact Belarusian sovereignty and its continued involvement in supporting Russia’s policies towards Ukraine and the Central European region.
