Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said he is confident that Russia’s war against Ukraine will end “in the near future,” making the remark while discussing joint infrastructure plans with a visiting Russian official.
Speaking at a meeting with Russia’s Yaroslavl Region Governor Mikhail Evraev, Lukashenko mentioned the war only briefly as he outlined deeper cooperation between Minsk and Moscow, according to a video released by the pro-government Telegram channel Pul Pervogo.
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“We’ve agreed with President Putin… we will try to build a high-speed railway,” he said.
“We’ll finish this drawn-out ordeal in Ukraine, I think, in the near future, and then focus on our domestic matters.”
Lukashenko, who has supported Russia’s invasion and allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory as a staging ground and launching pad for the 2022 invasion, offered no more details.
His remarks came as Ukrainian, US, and European officials wrapped up talks in Geneva to hammer out the 28-point plan – a document apparently leaked by Moscow but now being driven by Washington.
Speaking to the Swedish parliament via video link, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the “main problem” in the talks is Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin’s demand for legal recognition of the territory Russia has “stolen.”
“This would break the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty,” he told lawmakers, adding that “borders cannot be changed by force.”
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“Keep pressure on Russia. Russia is still killing people,” he added.
Zelensky earlier said Kyiv continues to work closely with Washington to ensure any compromise “strengthens, not weakens” Ukraine, with priorities including an “all-for-all” prisoner swap and the return of abducted Ukrainian children.
Zelensky has urged unity as the talks intensify, calling on Ukraine’s political class to “stop the bickering” during what officials describe as a decisive moment.
If Kyiv and Washington finalize the remaining points – and secure European support – US officials plan to take the plan to Moscow.