Belarus president calls for US nuclear withdrawal Amid historical reflections on Ukrainian conflict

At the second Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko proposed the withdrawal of American nuclear weapons from countries in the Eurasian region.

He emphasized that such a move is essential for fostering genuine détente and creating conditions conducive to dialogue, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

"For the real détente, to create conditions for dialogue, it is necessary to withdraw US nuclear weapons from the territory of Eurasian countries," Lukashenko stated, highlighting the need for reduced military tensions in the area.

In a related discussion, Lukashenko recounted his interactions with Ukrainian military leaders during the early stages of the Russian invasion. He revealed that as Russian troops approached Kyiv in early 2022, Ukrainian generals reached out to him, seeking to surrender as prisoners of war.

“Ukrainian generals called me, asking to contact [Russian President Vladimir] Putin through me to stop the war and somehow surrender,” he noted, suggesting that there were voices within Ukraine advocating for an end to the conflict.

Reflecting on the broader context, Lukashenko acknowledged that even today, there are reasonable individuals in Ukraine, particularly among the military, who desire to halt the ongoing violence. He recalled the spring of 2022, when international figures, including Western leaders and the Pope, urged for a cessation of hostilities.

“We withdrew the troops from Kyiv. And then what? Believed once again. And what was the result?” he questioned, suggesting a cycle of mistrust and missed opportunities for peace.

On March 29, 2022, delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Istanbul to discuss potential agreements aimed at resolving their ongoing conflict. Among the principles outlined was Ukraine's commitment to a neutral, non-aligned status, which would include a pledge not to deploy foreign weapons, including nuclear arms, on its territory. Following the discussions, Russian troops were withdrawn from the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions. However, the peace talks subsequently stalled entirely. Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that Ukraine had refused to honour the agreements made during these negotiations. 

By Vafa Guliyeva