MINSK, 27 February (BelTA) – The Ukrainian elite have recently contacted me with a request to talk to Volodymyr Zelensky, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko told the media on 27 February, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said that he talked to Vladimir Putin a few days ago and the Russian president reaffirmed his readiness to hold talks with Ukraine. Later the Russian leader asked the Belarusian head of state to help organize such talks. In the end, however, Ukraine refused to take part in the talks.
“Late last night the Ukrainian elite contacted me. They asked me to mediate. I said that I am ready to do this anytime,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
In his words, the Ukrainian elite persisted with their request “that I talk to the president of Ukraine”. Aleksandr Lukashenko said that he agreed, although expressing doubts that he could influence the Ukrainian leader. “They conveyed to Zelensky that I was willing to talk to him. Late in the evening the Russian president phoned me and said that they were ready to meet in Gomel. Of course, I welcomed this decision,” the president said.
Gomel prepared a venue for talks, welcomed the Russian delegation. The only thing left was to wait for a response from Ukraine.
“We tried to contact Zelensky and finally managed to do it by the morning. The answer was ‘Maybe'. I can already say it openly ‘The man is not assessing the situation adequately, he does not know what is really happening,'” the president said.
