Lukashenko Offers Talks, Kyiv Dismisses Conditional Threats

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated that Belarusian forces would officially join Russia's war against Ukraine only if Belarus is attacked first. He also offered to hold bilateral talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Kyiv dismissed the conditional threat and the offer, according to RBC-Ukraine on May 21.

Key Statements

"There was no need for Belarusian involvement."
— Lukashenko, via state news agency BelTA

Lukashenko said he would stand with Russia to defend the "motherland from Brest to Vladivostok" only in the event of foreign aggression against Belarus.

Lukashenko expressed willingness to meet Zelenskyy "anywhere—in Ukraine, in Belarus" to discuss "problems in Belarusian-Ukrainian relations."

Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Dmytro Lytvyn responded: "Therefore, we monitor his actions. Lukashenko has a habit of somewhat stupidly inventing post factum where an 'attack was being prepared' against him. What is there to talk about?"

Background

• The Ukrainian President's Office stated that Lukashenko's words have meant "nothing" since he allowed Belarus to be used as a staging ground for the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022.

• On the same day, President Zelenskyy visited Slavutych, a Ukrainian city near the Belarusian border, to discuss border security measures.

• Zelenskyy has warned of persistent military threats from the north, including potential new offensives targeting Chernihiv and Kyiv regions from Belarusian territory and Russia's Bryansk region.

• Zelenskyy instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intensify diplomatic pressure on Belarus and ordered military commands to reinforce defensive positions along the northern border.