❓WHAT HAPPENED: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will soon unveil a proposal for ending the war in Ukraine.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Alexander Lukashenko, Vladimir Putin, President Donald J. Trump, and Volodymyr Zelensky.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Lukashenko met Putin in Moscow on Friday, following a Trump-Putin summit in Alaska last month.
💬KEY QUOTE: “To avoid losing all of Ukraine, [Zelensky] must not just negotiate, but agree to favorable terms—terms that, by and large, have been approved by the Americans,” said Lukashenko.
🎯IMPACT: Lukashenko claims the proposal is beneficial for Ukraine and broadly supported by the U.S., but skepticism remains due to Russia’s historical demands.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, after a five-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday, revealed that the Russian leader will soon announce a “very good proposal” for ending the war in Ukraine. The proposal, according to Lukashenko, has already been shared with former U.S. President Donald J. Trump during a summit in Alaska last month.
Lukashenko refrained from detailing the contents of the proposal, stating, “President Putin and I discussed it, but I won’t talk about it. The President himself will say.” He described the proposal as favorable for Ukraine, adding, “If the Ukrainians don’t accept these proposals, it will be like it was at the beginning of the special military operation. It will be even worse; they will lose Ukraine.”
Russia’s demands in the past have included territorial concessions from Ukraine, renunciation of NATO membership ambitions, and limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces—conditions Kiev has consistently rejected. Lukashenko suggested that he, Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should meet to negotiate, though Russia insists such a meeting would require Zelensky to travel to Moscow.
In contrast, Trump recently stated that Ukraine could potentially regain all its lost territory due to Russia’s economic struggles, marking a shift in his stance. The Kremlin dismissed these comments, attributing them to Trump’s recent meeting with Zelensky. Lukashenko emphasized that Zelensky must negotiate and agree to the terms supported by the U.S. to avoid further losses.
Lukashenko faces Western sanctions over his support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. However, Trump has recently reached out to him, describing him as a “highly respected” leader and facilitating discussions that led to the release of over 50 political prisoners in Belarus.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.