The long-anticipated meeting between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin took place in Moscow on Thursday. Putin expressed his willingness to engage in negotiations but made it clear that he would not entertain any proposals that do not align with reality.
In addition, Putin criticized the upcoming peace conference on the conflict in Ukraine, scheduled to be hosted by Switzerland in June. The Russian president emphasized that any plans that contradict Russia’s interests would not be accepted.
The Swiss government has extended an invitation to Russia to join the peace talks in June, aiming to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has persisted for over two years. However, Putin stated that Russia has not received a formal invitation to participate in the discussions. He emphasized the importance of including Russia in the dialogue for any viable peace resolution.
Meanwhile, Ukraine, under President Volodymyr Zelensky, has put forward a peace formula that includes demands for the withdrawal of Russian troops, compensation for damages inflicted, and accountability through an international court. Putin defended Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022 as necessary to protect Russian interests and prevent perceived threats to Russia’s security.
Kyiv and its allies characterize Russia’s actions in Ukraine as military aggression and a large-scale invasion. The Kremlin has indicated that any potential peace talks must consider Russia’s interests for progress to be made. The outcome of the discussions remains uncertain as tensions continue to escalate between the involved parties.