Photo courtesy of RIA Novosti
MINSK, 22 August (BelTA) – U.S. President Donald Trump excelled in his role as a mediator between two conflicting parties during his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko told journalists on 22 August, BelTA has learned.
The president was asked for his assessment of the U.S.-Russia negotiations in Alaska and whether he agreed with the view that Trump emerged as the loser.
Aleksandr Lukashenko dismissed this view. “I categorically reject the conclusions drawn by journalists and some ‘experts’ on this matter – specifically, that Putin gained more than Trump, or that, to put it crudely, ‘Putin slammed Trump’s face into the table’ and Trump lost. Those who lack an understanding of basic diplomacy should refrain from making assessments. These are two different individuals operating from entirely different positions,” Aleksandr Lukashenko explained.
“What did Trump lose to Putin? They had entirely different roles,” he stated. He explained that while Vladimir Putin represented one side of the conflict, Donald Trump acted as a mediator seeking to understand Russia’s position –a role he performed excellently. “America is not waging war against Russia, nor is it a party to the conflict, even though it supplies weapons. Donald Trump and the U.S. are acting as mediators. To gain a deeper understanding of the conflict and Russia’s stance, Trump invited Putin to Alaska – a move for which he should be thanked,” the head of state said.
He noted that many venues for a possible leaders’ summit were considered. “The invitation to Alaska was somewhat exotic, but strategic. Putin called me beforehand and mentioned that venues like Rome, Geneva, Türkiye, and the Emirates were considered. I noted that it might seem odd for Orthodox Christians to meet in Rome. He agreed, and after rejecting those options, they decided to wait for an American proposal,” the Belarusian leader said.
“Why blame Trump for not achieving tangible results?” Aleksandr Lukashenko asked rhetorically. Vladimir Putin could have disclosed specifics yet abstained, demonstrating a diplomatic posture consistent with his characteristic conduct.
The president of Belarus admitted to being surprised by Donald Trump’s diplomatic restraint. Contrary to the expectation that Donald Trump would offer details and cover all points as usual, he was notably succinct. “It was a smart move. His [post-talk] speech was only four minutes long,” stated Aleksandr Lukashenko, who described Trump’s role as a mediator as perfect. He clarified that his praise was not a consequence of their phone conversation but a genuine appraisal: “He executed his role magnificently, defying all expectations. Even I, who anticipated a detailed breakdown, was impressed by his adept handling of the situation.”
“He acted as a mediator. His role was to understand Russia’s position and objectives in this conflict, which he accomplished. However, he deliberately refrained from making public statements on that, as he is not a party to the conflict. The specifics are for the actual parties, Presidents Putin and Zelensky, to discuss,” the Belarusian leader remarked.
However, a leak later surfaced in U.S. media suggesting that a Russia-Ukraine land swap had been discussed. As Aleksandr Lukashenko revealed, this leak was addressed in a conversation with the Russian president: “I told him not to worry about it – the topic will be discussed eventually anyway.”
The head of state emphasized the summit’s critical importance, noting: “These are the two countries on which life on our planet depends today. God forbid their nuclear arsenals, and ours, are ever unleashed; the planet would be thrown into chaos. This meeting was good, and criticism of either president is misguided given their roles.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko believes that the outcomes of the Alaska talks were meaningful, as Russia’s position on the conflict settlement and the overall situation on the front became clearer for Trump.
“Regardless of one’s perspective, Russia’s position on the peace deal is more critical than Ukraine’s. The reason is simple: Russia holds overwhelming dominance on the battlefield. A dire situation has emerged for Ukraine near Pokrovsk, the main focal point, which is Donetsk Oblast,” stated Aleksandr Lukashenko.
He explained that Ukraine diverted its most capable units from this critical sector to the northern front near Sumy and Kharkov, where Russian forces had made incursions and needed to be contained. This weakened the primary direction in Donbass, leading to the inevitable: Russian advances across the entire front.
“Yes, they are advancing gradually. President Putin and I have discussed this. He stated that while they could advance faster, it would result in greater losses. They are prioritizing the preservation of their military personnel. Yet, they are pressing forward consistently: half a kilometer, a kilometer each day, liberating new villages daily,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The Belarusian leader stated that the current situation is critically dangerous for Ukraine, emphasizing: “Ukraine must stop immediately and seek a peace agreement to avoid its complete collapse.”
He believes that Donald Trump deserves credit for assuming the role of mediator and striving to end the conflict, even if he may now regret engaging in an effort that turned out to be harder than anticipated. “I warned the Americans verbatim during their visit long before these negotiations: tell Trump that he cannot retreat. He has taken on this challenge, must see it through, and possesses the capacity to resolve it, which he is actively attempting to do,” the president remarked.
Following his negotiations with Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump convened a meeting in Washington with European Union leaders and Vladimir Zelensky to update them on the progress in the peace process. “The Europeans are now eager to participate, insisting that ‘nothing can be achieved without us’,” noted Aleksandr Lukashenko.
In this context, the president recalled the February 2015 Normandy Format negotiations in Minsk, which were initiated by major European powers and involved the leaders of Germany and France in efforts to resolve the crisis in Ukraine. “Who prevented them from establishing a lasting peace? They later admitted it themselves: their goal was not to make peace, but to give Ukraine time to rearm. So why are they offended that Trump isn’t inviting them now? What purpose do they serve? They already had their chance. America initially stayed out of the process, despite my warnings: I told them that there would be no peace without America and that they need it. They left it out. They decided to establish peace on their own, they failed, and they did it deliberately. They deceived Russia. That’s why Trump is absolutely right to take charge unilaterally and push for a peace deal. I believe his efforts are sincere.”
Still, Aleksandr Lukashenko suggested that the U.S. may benefit from European leaders playing the role of hawks in public. This allows Trump to demonstrate to Vladimir Putin and others the challenges he faces: not only is he working toward peace and reconciling Ukrainian and Russian positions, but he is also overcoming European resistance.”
Looking ahead, much will depend on Ukraine’s next steps and its acceptance of the reality on the ground. While everyone desires a swift peace, it will take time. As a first step, the Belarusian leader concluded, at least a ceasefire – on the ground and in the air – must be achieved.”
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