Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has firmly rejected the prospect of deploying European peacekeeping forces to Ukraine, emphasizing Russia's unwavering stance against such an initiative. In an exclusive interview with American blogger Mario Nawfal in Minsk, Lukashenko highlighted that Russia will not consent to the presence of EU peacekeepers in Ukraine, especially given the aggressive stance currently adopted by the European Union's leadership, predominantly Germany and France.
The discussion comes amidst reports from the Associated Press that a coalition of European nations is discreetly formulating plans to introduce troops into Ukraine to support the enforcement of any forthcoming peace agreements with Russia. Among these nations, Britain and France are leading the efforts, although specific details remain undisclosed.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently affirmed that the United Kingdom is prepared to contribute to any peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, contingent upon receiving support from the United States.
In addition to addressing the peacekeeping issue, Lukashenko revealed that in his latest communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Putin expressed his willingness to engage in negotiations to resolve the Ukraine situation, including discussions with Ukrainian officials. Lukashenko emphasized that a resolution to Ukraine's challenges would be untenable without Ukraine's active participation.
Moreover, Lukashenko touched upon a potential U.S.-Ukraine agreement concerning rare earth metals, stating that such a deal could be \"alarming for Russia\" if it extends beyond mere economic relations.
As the situation continues to evolve, the dynamics between European nations, Russia, and Ukraine remain a focal point of international attention.
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Russia against any European peacekeepers in Ukraine, Lukashenko says
cgtn.com
