June 3, Pozirk. Nicolas Lerner, head of France’s Directorate-General for External Security, visited Minsk last week at the request of French President Emmanuel Macron, a source who wished to remain anonymous told Pozirk.
The Telegram channel of exiled Belarusian politician Varelyj Capkała also reported on the visit, noting that it focused on regional security, Belarus’ non-nuclear status and inadmissibility of Minsk’s involvement in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
The official reportedly reiterated France’s position regarding serious political, economic and international consequences should Alaksandar Łukašenka decide to join Russia’s war or provide the Belarusian territory for the use of nuclear weapons.
Lerner has already briefed Macron on the meeting, Capkała said.
On May 29, Łukašenka announced that a French representative would visit Minsk on June 1 or 2 for talks, following his phone talks with Macron on May 24. However, the visit took place earlier.
France and the European Union do not recognize Łukašenka as Belarus’ legitimate president. Belarus has designated France an unfriendly state.
