Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russia, called on Friday for a “truce” in Ukraine and for talks “without preconditions” between Moscow and kyiv.
“We must stop now, before the escalation begins. I take the risk of suggesting a cessation of hostilities,” said Mr. Lukashenko, in power since 1994, during a speech to the nation.
“It is possible – and must – to settle all territorial, reconstruction, security and other issues at the negotiating table without preconditions,” he added.
Mr Lukashenko, who holds the West and Ukraine responsible for the conflict, also said he feared a “nuclear” war because of Western support for Kiev, while Vladimir Putin earlier announced his intention to deploy nuclear weapons ” tactics” in Belarus.
“Because of the United States and their satellites, a total war has been unleashed” in Ukraine, he said, believing that from then on, “nuclear fires lie in wait on the horizon”.
“You all understand and know that there is only one solution: negotiations! Negotiations without preconditions”, he hammered.
Stressing that the “military-industrial complex is running at full speed in Russia” and that Ukraine was “flooded with Western weapons”, Mr. Lukashenko worried about an upcoming “escalation” which will cause many deaths.
Belarus is not a direct party to the conflict in Ukraine, but it loaned its territory to the Russian army for its offensive on the Ukrainian capital last year and to carry out strikes, according to Kiev.
Moscow and Minsk also conducted joint exercises and created a military grouping consisting of soldiers from both countries.
President Putin last weekend announced his intention to deploy “tactical” nuclear weapons to Belarus, an announcement that has caused concern in Ukraine and the West.
Russia and Ukraine had held talks in 2022, but these fizzled out in the face of intransigence on both sides. Subsequent attempts at mediation yielded no results.
Moscow believes that the conflict can only end if kyiv yields to its demands, in particular that Ukraine accepts the annexation of five of its regions.
For its part, kyiv believes that the prerequisite for peace is the withdrawal of Russian forces from its territory, without exception.
3/31/2023 11:31:27 – Moscow (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
