The Belarusian president has said he urged his French counterpart to engage directly with Moscow

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has urged his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, to take the lead in promoting dialogue between the EU and Russia, saying the Ukraine conflict should be resolved through direct talks rather than further escalation.

Speaking to journalists on Friday, Lukashenko revealed details of a phone call with Macron on May 24, saying he proposed a meeting in Minsk involving himself, the French president, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to Lukashenko, Macron did not rule out such a meeting but said he would first need to consult with his European allies. The Belarusian leader said he responded by urging Macron to take the initiative, describing him as one of Europe's most experienced statesmen.

"You're the veteran among Europe's leaders. Today, you are the key player and the driving force in Europe," Lukashenko recalled telling Macron. "You should call Putin, come, sit down, and talk man to man."

EU officials have for months complained that US-Russian negotiations on the Ukraine conflict have left the Europeans sidelined. However, the 27-member bloc has still failed to agree on who could speak for its interests in possible direct negotiations with Moscow, which Brussels cut off after the escalation of the conflict in 2022.

On Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas claimed that Russia was setting a "trap" for the EU by encouraging member states to decide who should represent the bloc in direct talks with Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Moscow never rejected direct contact with Western leaders and "they can just call President Putin."

According to Lukashenko, Macron had also expressed concerns about Belarus potentially being drawn deeper into the Ukraine conflict.

The Belarusian leader dismissed such speculation, stating: "I am not planning to enter any war. Why would I?"

Lukashenko also rejected claims that recent joint nuclear drills conducted by Moscow and Minsk signaled preparations for a wider escalation.

The drill in Belarus was focused on concealed deployment, long-distance maneuvers and training the troops' ability to prepare for launches from unscheduled locations, according to the sides.

Russia stationed nuclear weapons in Belarus in 2023, following repeated requests from Minsk. It also deployed its nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile system there last year. The Belarusian leadership cited aggressive Western policies as the reason for the deployment.

According to Lukashenko, Minsk would consider using nuclear weapons only in the event of an attack on the country.

(RT.com)