Opinions & Interviews

Zakharova: Lukashenko could help bring peace to Ukraine

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MOSCOW, 29 June (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko is an outstanding statesman, and if Kiev wanted it, he could make a significant contribution to achieving peace in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a news briefing on 28 June when she was asked by journalists to comment on what Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine Aleksei Danilov said about Aleksandr Lukashenko’s possible participation in the negotiations between Moscow and Kiev, BelTA has learned.

“The president of Russia has spoken highly of the role of his Belarusian counterpart. There is hardly anything you can add to what the Russian president has publicly said. I am in no position (in terms of the protocol and functional duties) to assess presidents of other countries, after all, such an assessment has already been given by Russia’s leadership. Nevertheless, let me deviate from this principle and say that, without a doubt, Aleksandr Grigoryevich Lukashenko is an outstanding statesman, a dexterous politician, a diplomat, a person capable of quickly solving many complex problems and finding out-of-the-box solutions,” Maria Zakharova said in response to a journalist’s remark that after playing a role in resolving the coup attempt situation in Russia, Aleksandr Lukashenko’s international standing has increased even more.

“Of course, he could make a significant contribution to brokering a peace deal, if the Kiev regime wanted it, though it does not,” Maria Zakharova emphasized.

“Aleksandr Grigoryevich Lukashenko has fully deserved this appreciation due to his actions. I will remind you which ones: for example, in February - March 2022 he gave an instruction to create all conditions for holding Russia-Ukraine talks on the Belarusian territory. Not to mention the hospitality and assistance in arranging the hours-long negotiating marathon, when a well-known set of measures was signed in February 2015 [Minsk agreements on the settlement of the conflict in Donbass]. Thus, Belarus and its president have repeatedly demonstrated hospitality, genuine and effective mediation, good will and determination to achieve peace and assistance in the peace process. The Belarusian president did it more than once, his rhetoric is confirmed by his deeds,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.

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