Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin 'regrets' the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine into a full-scale war, which has resulted in significant loss of life. In an interview with Mario Nawfal on X, Lukashenko, known for his close ties to Putin, stated that Putin did not foresee the war's extensive ramifications. "We haven't talked about it, but I know him well. Putin didn't expect it would turn into such a war," he remarked.
Lukashenko further explained that after witnessing the mounting casualties, Putin was open to negotiations aimed at halting the violence. He stated that discussions were centred around Ukraine's demilitarisation and public assurances regarding the rights of Russian speakers in Ukraine, suggesting that a peace agreement could have been reached had the circumstances been different. "He wanted to negotiate when he saw what it had turned into," Lukashenko noted.
In his analysis of international politics, Lukashenko attributed the ongoing conflict to external pressure, pinpointing former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's influence during the Istanbul peace talks in 2022. According to Lukashenko, Johnson urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky against pursuing peace, which he believes resulted in a prolonged war. "He forbade Zelensky to agree to peace. He pushed Zelensky once again to war," Lukashenko claimed.
In contrast, Lukashenko expressed admiration for former US President Donald Trump, asserting that Biden lacked the decisiveness to engage directly with Putin. He stated that the absence of dialogue between Biden and Putin was 'crazy' and suggested that Biden was influenced by external parties in his diplomatic approach. "When he was told not to phone, he did not. When he was told to call Putin a dictator, he called him a dictator. Shadow forces 'wielded power over Biden,'" Lukashenko said.
The Belarusian leader attempted to clarify the motivations behind Russia's military actions, asserting that the conflict was not predominantly about NATO's expansion but rather about perceived threats from Ukraine. He remarked, "It is about the threats that were created in Ukraine." According to Lukashenko, the focus should not solely be on NATO, as there were other underlying issues relating to security that prompted Russia’s actions.
As the war continues, the humanitarian consequences remain dire, with estimates of lives lost in the conflict amounting to hundreds of thousands. The situation continues to unfold, with diplomatic discussions and international relations playing a crucial role in shaping future developments.
Source: Noah Wire Services