Belarusian President Lukashenko Calls for Ceasefire Talks and Sovereignty Push

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, in a public address to the nation and parliament, voiced his view that hostilities in Ukraine should cease and that peace talks should resume.

“We must stop now before the debate grows. I am ready to take the risk of proposing a halt to fighting. A ceasefire should be declared with the freedom to move troop groups and transfer weapons and equipment. If the West uses it for deception again, Russia will respond with full military force — including depleted uranium and enriched uranium —” he stated. “The army will understand me.”

Lukashenko argued that only negotiations without preconditions can halt the conflict. “Today is a moment that will not recur in the history of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, nor in the broader arc of world history, especially in Europe. The question is what to do next. There is only one path — negotiations without preconditions”, he declared.

The Belarusian leader’s proposal drew a response from Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for the Russian president. Peskov said Putin and Lukashenko would consider the idea of an emergency ceasefire next week. “There are no changes in the Ukrainian context. A special military operation is continuing, as it remains the only way to achieve the objectives”, Peskov noted.

Lukashenko also criticized Kyiv’s stance on diplomacy. He argued that Ukraine’s legal ban on talks is laughable and warned that a possible Ukrainian counteroffensive could close the door to negotiations and push the situation toward irreversible escalation.

According to Lukashenko, the belligerents show no real desire to fight, and both sides often exchange information along the contact line. He added that Kyiv’s claims of a future victory over Russia were nonsensical, given Russia’s nuclear capability. He warned that the gravest weapon would be used if the leadership fears for the federation’s survival.

“People who don’t understand what they’re fighting for will still reach the contact line. I have information that has already started to circulate: company, platoon, and battalion commanders are initiating negotiations. They inform the Russians that a strike will occur at a given location tomorrow — the Russians retreat. Then a strike is launched, and they return”, Lukashenko described.

Peskov later commented that the Russian military remains engaged in its assigned tasks. “I’m not sure — perhaps it’s better to ask the Defense Ministry. Our troops taking part in the special operation continue to fulfill their missions”, he remarked.

nuclear potential

In the current military-political climate, Lukashenko said he has stepped up talks with President Putin regarding the return of nuclear weapons to Belarus. He recalled that the weapons were removed under guarantees without sanctions, repression, or revolutionary planning, but ultimately were abandoned. “Under the current conditions and the security landscape, I intensified discussions with Putin about restoring nuclear weapons to Belarus, specifically those withdrawn in the 1990s. This is not about intimidation; it is about safeguarding Belarus and securing peace for its people”, he asserted.

Lukashenko indicated that a bilateral agreement with Moscow on deploying strategic nuclear weapons in Belarus could be reached if necessary. He noted that missile system sites would be promptly restored as part of this effort, with Topol missiles identified as a priority.

Nevertheless, he emphasized that Belarus would not attack anyone or engage in war. The presence of Russian forces on Belarusian soil would not mean the country’s conquest. He admitted building up the armed forces himself to protect the western flank of the Union State.

“There’s no concern that Russia is seizing territory here. Russian units are led by around 500 Belarusian officers, and I personally supervise these troops on Belarusian soil”, he stated.

Belarusian sovereignty

During the address, Lukashenko pledged that any violation of Belarusian sovereignty would be met with a decisive response, declaring he would push back and defend the state to the end. He said some special operation forces and other units had pulled back to the south to avoid provoking the Ukrainian army and to safeguard the national border.

On the theme of sovereignty, he stressed that Belarus would not fall under foreign control and that cooperation with the Russian Federation aims to strengthen the Union State. He warned that Western actions signaled attempts to pressure Belarus, including training Belarusians abroad who left the country for such purposes.

He warned of the creation of covert regiments and legions that could be used to stage a coup in Belarus, claiming Western powers were preparing to invade and destabilize the country. He urged Western nations to acknowledge defeat in any attempt to destabilize Belarus in 2020. He recalled the events of August 2020 and the missteps that followed, stating that Belarus should engage with Western partners to build reliable relations that can be sustained.

Reflecting on past political events, he noted that opposition figures were detained before the 2020 presidential elections and that protests followed Lukashenko’s victory. He claimed Western politicians’ promises were unreliable and that Western influence should be met with cautious but clear resistance.

Family values were another focus. Lukashenko argued for the suppression of childless ideologies and argued that such currents could erode the social fabric. He insisted that this tendency should be banned and described it as an attempt to depopulate and weaken the state. He also proposed that Belarusian women should acquire basic weapon handling skills, including the use of a gun or a basic automatic weapon, as a measure to bolster national defense.

The president also addressed political longevity, saying he does not plan to retire or privatize the constitution to suit personal interests. He rejected being a lame duck and pledged to continue serving for the country’s benefit, noting that his children would not become presidents and urging others not to speculate about succession.