Lukashenko on peace talks on Ukraine: negotiations needed, even if the Moon chosen as their venue
It is important to continue peace talks on Ukraine – as stated by President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko while answering questions from journalists during his today’s meeting with President of Russia Vladimir Putin in Valaam, BelTA reports
The Russian leader recalled that the peace talks on Ukraine had begun in Belarus.
"True, three rounds are already over. Well, if Belarus is not appreciated as a venue, then they [the talks] may be held anywhere – even on the Moon. We have discussed this with Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin]. Anyway, it is necessary to talk, rather than to throw stones at each other," the Belarusian leader stressed.
Aleksandr Lukashenko added that there is no need to shout about a desire to meet with Putin. “What is the need in shouting? Prepare the appropriate ground, statements, and so on. I told the Americans about it. Prepare everything – and then gather and sign. You may invite Trump, Macron, Starmer, anyone – but prior it is necessary to get prepared, and they understand this. Accordingly, if they say this, it means they do not actually want to. They are just making a spectacle,” he said.
The Belarusian leader stated that he fully supports the President of Russia in his approaches regarding the negotiations. "War may be in place, but negotiations are always underway. While fighting in distant Vietnam, Americans were negotiating since the first day of the war,” he noted.
In this regard, Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out the mistake of the Ukrainian side, “They demand the impossible. The statements they make and Russia’s proposals actually need to be debated at the negotiating table. There may be compromises and discussions of nuances and details. Meanwhile, such point-blank [statements] are a grandstand play. I am telling this with regard to statements that ‘we talk a lot but wish to do nothing’.”
In general, the Head of State urged to stop the dangerous escalation, doing this carefully.
Belarus, in turn, is also contributing to the peace process by facilitating exchanges on the Russian-Ukrainian border. “Russians are negotiating with Ukrainians in Istanbul (as you remember, Vladimir Vladimirovich called me to thank), and this process is continuing in Belarus. We are doing everything, take these exchanges at the border,” the Belarusian leader said, adding that Ukrainians had opened a section of the border for such exchanges and restored railway communication on the necessary section. "In short, there is progress," he noted.
"There was much talk about children. Russians tell them: you are welcome to come and see. The human rights commissioners of Russia and Ukraine are negotiating, and negotiations are underway on children," the President of Belarus continued. “What has Russia done wrong? There is a war going on, and children are homeless. They [Russians] provided them with food and clothes – but were accused of that. For what? Well, let's negotiate, and the exchange is underway."
Russian President Vladimir Putin noted on this issue that, as it turned out, there was no specific number of children mentioned by the Ukrainian side.
“Certainly not. Only three or four children were exchanged, whose parents had lost them,” Aleksandr Lukashenko confirmed.
“When we requested the lists during the negotiations in Istanbul, none were provided,” the Russian President pointed out.
“There are no lists. This turns into public manipulation that does not lead to anything good. It is necessary to simply sit down at the table and negotiate, regardless of the positions,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated firmly.
