Belarus ready to host Ukraine-Russia talks again

May 24, BPN. Belarus’ top security official said Minsk is ready to host talks between Ukraine and Russia to resolve their conflict, as it did last year before the negotiations stalled.

Alaksandr Valfovič, the state secretary of Belarus’ Security Council, made the offer at a security meeting in the Moscow region. He said Belarus has done and will do everything necessary for a peaceful settlement, according to the Russian news agency TASS.

“Let me remind you: three rounds of talks were held on Belarusian soil last year. We are ready to resume this practice and provide everything necessary,” Valfovič said.

Russia launched full-scale military aggression against Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Belarus has denied sending troops to fight alongside Russia, but its territory has been used by the Russian army for strikes against Ukraine.

The first round of talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations took place on February 28 in Belarus close to the Belarusian-Ukrainian border, the second round on March 3 in Belarus near the Belarusian-Polish border and the third round on March 7 in the Belarusian part of Biełaviežskaja Pušča, a forest reserve.

The negotiations continued in Turkey later and then stopped. The world’s media attributed the stalemate to various factors, from Russia’s war crimes to the increased military and economic aid to Ukraine from the West.

Earlier this month, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that peace talks were not possible. According to him, both sides are “completely absorbed in this war” and “convinced that they can win.”