Lukashenko says Belarus will not be dragged into Ukraine war, but will defend itself with Russia

• Belarusian President Lukashenko stated they will only join Ukraine war if attacked, then Russia and Belarus would jointly defend their territory.
• Lukashenko offered to meet Zelensky to discuss issues. Zelensky, however, warns of Russian attempts to draw Belarus deeper into the conflict and strengthens defences.
• Despite Western sanctions, US and Belarus have held talks, leading to prisoner releases and potential eased sanctions. Lukashenko suspects EU leaders are nudging Zelensky.

MOSCOW - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on May 21 dismissed any notion that Belarus would be dragged into the Ukraine war, but said Russia and Belarus would jointly defend themselves in case of aggression, Belarusian state news agency BELTA reported.

Mr Lukashenko was also quoted by BELTA as saying that he was ready to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has repeatedly suggested that Belarus could become further involved in the more than four-year-old conflict.

Mr Lukashenko made his remarks during joint nuclear exercises with Russia which he and Russian President Vladimir Putin observed via a video conference.

“As for (Mr Zelensky’s) statements that Belarus will be drawn into the war, as I have just said, this will occur in only one instance - if aggression is committed on our territory,” BELTA quoted Mr Lukashenko as saying.

“We will together defend our Fatherland... where our two countries stand,” he added.

He said that if Mr Zelensky wanted to “talk about something, have a discussion or perhaps something else, by all means, we are open to this. Any location - Ukraine, Belarus - I am ready to meet him and discuss problems in our relations.”

Belarus allowed Russia to use its territory for Moscow’s February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and Mr Zelensky has for weeks warned of unusual activity and a possible cross-border incursion.

Mr Zelensky was discussing strengthening defences on May 21 with officials in northern Ukraine near the Belarusian border.

In his nightly video address, Mr Zelensky said Russia was “eager to draw Belarus deeper into this war” and pledged that Ukraine had “the capability to strengthen our defences... and to work preventively.”

Mr Lukashenko and Belarus have long been subject to Western sanctions over allegations of human rights abuses and for helping Russia stage its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

But the US has held several rounds of talks with Belarus that have led to the release of hundreds of detainees deemed political prisoners in Western countries in return for the easing of some sanctions.

US envoy John Coale has said Mr Lukashenko might soon visit the United States.

In his comments, Mr Lukashenko said European leaders unhappy at the prospect of improved relations between Washington and Minsk could have prompted Mr Zelensky to make his latest allegations.

“They see that we are having a specific dialogue with the Americans,” BELTA quoted him as saying. “And not everyone likes that. And that’s why they are nudging Zelensky.” REUTERS