Belarus aims for talks with Kyiv, KGB looks for middle ground
Alexander Lukashenko, Belarusian President (Photo: Getty Images)
Belarus has expressed its intention to establish dialogue with Ukraine to help facilitate the resolution of the war with Russia, according to the Belarusian state news agency BELTA.
Ivan Tertel, head of the Belarusian Security Service, stated that his agency is seeking to establish contacts with Ukraine to promote a settlement of the war with Russia, which has been ongoing for over 3.5 years.
Tertel’s comments followed reports that a senior Belarusian diplomat held meetings last week with European partners in an effort to ease Belarus’s international isolation, as the country remains a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to Tertel, meetings with Ukrainian officials are critically important for reaching a consensus in the current complex situation. He emphasized that work is ongoing, but much depends on the Ukrainian side. “Our president works as much as possible in order to stabilize the situation in the region,” added the head of Belarus’s KGB.
Tertel noted that Belarus is trying to find a balance of interests between both sides, and that this situation can only be resolved through quiet negotiations and compromise.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko allowed Russia to use the country’s territory for the start of part of the war against Ukraine in 2022, although Belarusian armed forces did not directly participate in the conflict. Lukashenko has been in power since 1994 and has long been under Western sanctions due to human rights violations and repression of protesters following the disputed 2020 elections.
In recent months, according to media reports, US President Donald Trump repeatedly contacted Lukashenko, calling him a highly respected leader, and sent an envoy to Minsk, which led to the release of more than 50 political prisoners.
Last month, Belarusian media quoted Lukashenko stating his readiness to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to help resolve the war and stabilize the region.
Alexander Lukashenko is trying to restore relations with Europe amid improving dialogue with the US.
Previously, with US support, the Belarusian regime released several opposition figures, and the US lifted sanctions on Belavia.
