Why Lukashenko started talking about “Belarusian peacekeepers”
Self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko suggested that Belarusian peacekeepers could allegedly facilitate normal relations between Ukraine and Russia. However, he clarified that Minsk does not plan to send a peacekeeping contingent to the front line and acknowledged that neither Ukraine nor the West would accept such a proposal.
With these statements, Lukashenko attempts to portray Belarus as neutral in the war. However, Belarus actively supported the Russian army at the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, making Minsk complicit in Moscow’s aggression. Consequently, any talk of “Belarusian peacekeepers” is utterly absurd.
This “peacekeeping” rhetoric is an effort to improve Lukashenko’s image internationally. It also aligns with Russian propaganda narratives, falsely claiming that the West and Ukraine, rather than Russia, are prolonging the war.
