Alyaksandr Lukashenko called in the first days after the Russian land invasion of Ukraine and apologized for firing missiles from Belarusian territory, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a three-hour interview. – He said: “Believe me, Volodya, it's not me. I told him (Putin – ed.) not to do it,” Zelensky said. He also expressed confidence that he and the new US President Donald Trump would “reach an agreement” to end the war and such a joint message would be sent to Moscow.
President Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky talked to American podcaster Lex Fridman. The three-hour interview was published on Sunday evening. The conversation took place in three languages ​​- English, Ukrainian and Russian. They had previously talked to Fridman, among others Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Benjamin NetanyahuJavier Milei and Mark Zuckerberg.
Zelensky said that in the first days of the full-scale war (from February 24, 2022), he had a telephone conversation with the leader Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. The Ukrainian president said that Lukashenko apologized to him for firing missiles from Belarusian territory.
Lukashenko actively supports Russia's actions in the war against Ukraine. As the RBC-Ukraine website reminds, “he repeatedly expressed solidarity with Moscow, calling the war a 'special military operation' and explaining Russian aggression.”
“These are his words, I have witnesses”
– Lukashenko said: “it was not me, it was Putin who fired missiles from my territory.” These are his words, I have witnesses. He apologized and said: “Believe me, Volodya, it wasn't me. I told him (Putin – ed.) not to do it. I had no influence on it,” Zelensky recalled the conversation from almost three years ago.
The President of Ukraine also said that he called Lukashenko “a murderer like Putin.” The Belarusian leader then replied that “it is impossible to fight the Russians.” When Zelensky asked “how could he let this happen”, Lukashenko reportedly replied: “Okay, then hit the refinery, it means a lot to me.”
“Trump may be the first leader to arrive in Ukraine by plane.”
President Zelensky also said in the interview that security guarantees for Kiev after the end of the war with Russia will be effective only if they are provided United States. The Ukrainian leader added that he hopes to meet US President-elect Donald Trump soon after his inauguration scheduled for January 20.
He also stressed that any ceasefire agreement with Russia must include solid security guarantees for Kiev. – Trump and I will reach an agreement and establish strong security guarantees, and then we will be able to talk to the Russians – added the Ukrainian president.
Main photo source: SERGEI ILNITSKY/PAP