Belarus leader opens doors to Putin–Zelenskyy peace talks

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has announced his willingness to host a high-level meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, should both parties agree to direct negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The statement came during a conversation with journalists, in which Lukashenko described Minsk as an "ideal venue" for potential peace talks, Caliber.Az reports, citing Belarus media.

He emphasized Belarus’ readiness to facilitate the summit at short notice, saying the country could “organize everything properly, even as soon as tomorrow.”

While expressing openness to the idea, Lukashenko was careful to note that he is not personally pushing to orchestrate such a meeting. “I’m not obsessed with the desire to host talks between Putin and Zelenskyy,” he said, underscoring that the decision must ultimately rest with Moscow and Kyiv.

Minsk previously served as a key diplomatic venue during earlier phases of the Russia–Ukraine crisis, hosting the Minsk Agreements in 2014 and 2015, brokered with the involvement of the OSCE, France, and Germany. However, since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Belarus's close alignment with Russia has complicated its role as a neutral facilitator.

Lukashenko’s remarks come amid continued international efforts to revive dialogue between the warring parties, though both sides remain publicly entrenched in their respective positions.

By Vafa Guliyeva