In response to a recent appeal from Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed a clear condition: any prospects for ceasefire and negotiations with Russia depend on the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory without facing resistance from Ukrainian troops. Officials in Kyiv framed the demand as essential for any meaningful dialogue to begin, underscoring the imperative that Russian units leave Ukrainian soil before any talks can gain traction, a stance reported by multiple observers (attribution: Ukrainian government briefings).
Former adviser to President Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, dismissed Lukashenko’s proposal for a halt to hostilities without the freedom to move or redeploy forces as unacceptable. Podolyak labeled the plan as invalid, arguing that any pause without real movement of troops would amount to a manipulation of the situation rather than a pathway to lasting peace (attribution: Podolyak statements, Kyiv policymakers).
Earlier, Lukashenko addressed the Belarusian public and members of the National Assembly, describing what he framed as a ceasefire arrangement that would prohibit troop regrouping on both sides. He framed negotiations without preconditions as the central element for resolving the conflict in Ukraine, a message intended to reassure domestic audiences while signaling Belarus’s stance on the broader crisis (attribution: Belarusian presidential communications).
News agencies continue to monitor developments, presenting evolving interpretations of Lukashenko’s proposal and the corresponding responses from Kyiv. Analysts highlight the tension between ceasefire concepts and the practical realities of troop movements and strategic leverage on the ground (attribution: ongoing coverage).