London – Biélorusian President Alexander Lukashenko – a close ally of President Vladimir Putin – warned that the Kremlin “would never accept a European deployment of troops in Ukraine, while Moscow and kyiv will continue to maneuver for advantage in the peace negotiations sponsored by the United States.
In a vast interview with blogger Mario Naufal published on Tuesday evening, Lukashenko praised President Donald Trump’s direct approach to the Russian War against Ukraine and suggested that Putin was ready to make peace.
It is unlikely that any proposal won Russian support if it includes the deployment of European forces in Ukraine, said Lukashenko.
“Russia will never accept it,” he said. “At least it is the position of Russia today. Especially since the direction of the European Union, mainly in the person of Germany and France, currently takes a very aggressive position for the moment.”
President Belarusian and presidential candidate Alexander Lukashenko talks about a press conference after voting in the presidential election in Minsk, Bélarus, on January 26, 2025.
Evgenia Novozhenina / Reuters
But the Belarusian chief also countered Trump and Putin’s attacks on the legitimacy of the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while offering Bélarus as a place of peace negotiations. Display of ceasefies who failed took place in Bélarus in the hours and days after the launch of his invasion in February 2022.
“There is no need to push Zelenskyy now,” said Lukashenko, quoted by the news agency belonging to the state of Belta. “We have to convince and conclude an agreement with Zelenskyy, because a large part of Ukrainian society is behind Zelenskyy.”
“If you want, come. Here it is nearby – 200 kilometers from the Belarusian border in Kyiv,” added Lukashenko. “We will succeed in a calmly, noise, without shouting.”
“Tell Trump: I’m waiting for him here with Putin and Zelenskyy. We are going to sit down and arrive at a calmly agreement,” he said. “If you want to reach an agreement.”
Moscow has repeatedly accused NATO and its members of seeking to use Ukraine as a launch ramp for attack against Russia. Putin has cited the expansion of NATO since the collapse of the Soviet Union as a key Russian grievance in the flight of its large -scale invasion of Ukraine.
Lukashenko seemed to play this problem. “This is not so much about NATO’s expansion in the East, but threats that have been created in Ukraine,” he said about Putin’s decision to launch the 2022 attack.
Kyiv leaders have supervised US-UKRAINE US-UKRAINE minerals offered and controversial as a way to obtain long-term American support and as a possible bridge to sustainable American security guarantees. Lukashenko suggested that the agreement, which seems to have become the cornerstone of Trump’s Ukrainian strategy, could disrupt the Kremlin.
“I have not discussed these questions with Russia and Putin,” he said. “But, most likely, it could be alarming if Russia considers that these agreements go beyond the framework of economic relations.”
Lukashenko has repeatedly called on Trump, whom he described as an “incredible person” and a political “bulldozer”.
The Belarusian chief also encouraged the United States to line up closer to Russia – a prospect that has disrupted European and Ukrainian leaders since Trump’s return to the White House. Indeed, Trump’s decision this week to freeze all American military aid to Ukraine left kyiv officials and across Europe in shock.
A float depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump overwhelming Ukraine and its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are represented during a parade in Duesseldorf, Germany, March 3, 2025.
Ina Fassbender / AFP via Getty Images
“The United States is the first country in the world, high technology, rich,” said Lukashenko. “They are capable of many things. Russia understands it. And Russia will try to establish very good relations with the United States of America.”
“For the planet to be in balance, so that there are no incomprehensible wars, as in the Middle East or in Ukraine, so that there are no conflicts, an alliance between Russia and the United States is possible and very important,” he added. “An alliance for economic development. It is possible and important. It will last a long time.”
The Belarusian leader seemed to chastise Trump for his unique political style, warning that the president must keep his promises.
“There are too many statements that should not have been made at all,” said Lukashenko. “You have to cool off after the elections. And you have to take measures in the interest of American voters, first of all, and, secondly, the whole world community.”
“You don’t have much time to prove to American society that you are capable of something,” he continued. “If you don’t do this, the Republicans will suffer an overwhelming defeat in the next elections. And it will be justified.”
