“There Will Be Peace. If Not This Year, Then Next Year.” Lukashenka Says Russia Is Being Exhausted

Reform.news Editorial Team · 16 October 2026, 13:39

https://reform.news/en/there-will-be-peace-if-not-this-year-then-next-year-lukashenka-says-russia-is-being-exhausted/

Aliaksandr Lukashenka expects Russia and Ukraine to reach a peace agreement this year or next. According to him, Russia’s forces are being depleted, but if Kyiv does not reach an agreement with Moscow, things will be even more difficult next year.

“There will be peace. If not this year, then next year. I am absolutely convinced.

Yes, Russia is more powerful, stronger, and it can still wage war for a long time. But the depletion is nevertheless very severe, and the impact on the economy is enormous. You can see that too. Who benefits from this, and who needs it? Russians understand this; they are ready for peace.

If Ukrainians do not agree to a peaceful settlement this year, things will be even more difficult for them next year, and after that it will become impossible”, he said.

Lukashenka noted that the Americans were hinting to Russia that they were prepared to lift sanctions, but if Moscow did not reach an agreement, things would be worse next year. The sanctions would remain in place even if Russia seized all of Ukraine’s territory.

“To be frank, it is not certain that anyone will stand alongside us and the Russians. Various factors are weighing on both Russia and Ukraine in this regard. But these factors are undoubtedly pushing both Ukraine and Russia towards peace because it is impossible to continue conducting military operations on this scale”, he said.

Finally, Lukashenka cited humanitarian arguments.

“For humanitarian and purely human reasons, peace is needed there. And it will be achieved. I would like this war to end as early as next year. And if it ends this year, that would be even better. We support this and will do everything we can in this regard. All wars end in peace. Sooner is better than later”, he said.

It should be noted that Russia consistently declares its readiness for an agreement while accusing Ukraine of escalating the conflict. However, the terms repeatedly outlined by Vladimir Putin and reaffirmed by his subordinates amount to Ukraine’s capitulation. Recently, US President Donald Trump has also begun saying that the Ukrainian side, namely President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is an obstacle to a peaceful settlement. Lukashenka also commented on these statements. In his view, Trump should not tell Ukraine what to do.

“Do you want an answer from me as a politician, or do you want my substantive position? If you want my substantive position, this is my credo: it is not for Trump to decide who will be president of Ukraine. The Ukrainian people will decide”, he said.

At the same time, Lukashenka believes that Zelenskyy should hold elections. According to him, Zelenskyy had allegedly promised to serve only one term.

“Promises must be kept. One must run in the elections. Trump is right on this point: if you made a promise, you must keep it. But he should not dictate terms. Trump should not dictate how Ukraine should act”, he said.