Lukashenka: We Are Doing Everything to Stay Out of This War
Reform.news Editorial Team · 3 November 2026, 11:59
https://reform.news/en/lukashenka-we-are-doing-everything-to-stay-out-of-this-war/Aliaksandr Lukashenka said at the Minsk Conference on Eurasian Security that attempts were being made to draw Belarus into the war against Ukraine, but that he was doing everything possible to prevent this.
“We need to stop. There is no need to escalate tensions anywhere. There is enough oil, gas and other resources for everyone. We need to reach an agreement on at least the simplest things. We need to stop shooting and start talking to each other. If you do not want to come to Minsk, let us meet in any other country. We will gladly come there with a large delegation.
Yes, this is the basis of Belarus’s position on Ukraine, and we want a peaceful settlement as soon as possible. The bloodshed and confrontation into which two nations that are brotherly to us have been drawn are taking place right on our border. And I must say, not just on the border — I will not go into the details — but already on the territory of Belarus. Some people want to drag Belarus into this war and unleash an escalation. But drawing Belarus into the war would not simply mean escalation; it would take this war to a terrifying new level. We are doing everything we can to stay out of this war,” he said.
According to Lukashenka, Russian President Vladimir Putin holds the same position.
“And what surprised me, and please understand me correctly, is that the Russian president takes the same position. He understands this. As he told me, he has no intention of having Belarus drawn into this war tomorrow. But let me put it simply, on a human level: Russia is currently fighting along a front line of up to 1,000 kilometres, perhaps 900. If we were drawn into the war, the Belarusian-Ukrainian border would add another 1,500 kilometres.
We and the Russians understand what would happen to us if we had to fight. It would be difficult to defend this section, given that representatives of the West are already fighting on the other side, and so-called mercenaries are coming from there, although they are no longer really mercenaries. We understand that this would mean a terrible escalation, one that would be extremely dangerous and highly disadvantageous for us. So why get involved in something that would bring us no positive result tomorrow? That is my reasoning, quite simply, on a human level,” he said.
Lukashenka offered another argument against Belarus entering the war. In his view, this would lead to NATO countries openly joining the fighting on Ukraine’s side.
“But we also understand that if we enter the war, the entire NATO bloc will use this as a pretext to start fighting against us as well. That means Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and another 2,000 kilometres of borders beyond that. That would make 3,500 kilometres in total. Who needs that? This is the basis of our position on Ukraine,” he said.
He also said he was prepared to take the wishes of the Belarusian people into account on this issue.
“I am often criticised for this. They say I am not rushing into this war because the Belarusian people do not want it. Well, listen, that is precisely why I am president: to act in accordance with the will and wishes of the Belarusian people, whose interests I am supposed to represent. So do not criticise me for that. Yes, it is true that not a single nation represented here at this conference wants to be drawn into the conflict. Not one. I must say that the war is not only on our borders; it is already here,” he said.