Lukashenka-Zelensky: First meeting, old peacekeeping ambitions


The recent meeting of Alyaksandr Lukashenka and Volodymyr Zelensky has turned out to be another proof of Belarus’ striving for a peacekeeper’s role in resolving the conflict in Eastern Ukraine.

First-met

The regional forum of Belarus and Ukraine in Zhytomyr became the venue for the first meeting of Lukashenka and Zelensky after the latter was elected as a president of Ukraine in April, 2019. Earlier, Lukashenka had repeatedly given a pat on Petro Poroshenkos back. After the victory of Zelensky, Lukashenka congratulated the newly elected president. Later in summer, the presidents had their first telephone conversation, but it was not until this October that they met face to face.

Volodymyr Zelensky and Alyaksandr Lukashenka at the forum in Zhytomyr, phot. Iryna Arakhouskaya / Belsat

At the meeting, the presidents discussed bilateral cooperation and delivering energy from the Belarusian NPP that is to be launched in 2020. In the run-up to the event, Ukraine and Belarus have exchanged the prisoners being charged with espionage. Thus, Yury Palityka came back to Belarus from the Ukrainian prison while journalist Pavlo Sharoiko was pardoned by the Belarusian authorities.

The conversation between Zelensky and Lukashenka reminded more of the ‘get to know each other’ format. While Zelensky was testing the waters talking about Donbas and Crimea as parts of Ukraine, Lukashenka did not miss a chance to mention Russia’s potential reaction on the talks.

There are so many journalists, now they may start to think that we have gathered here against Russia or China. Well, no!” he said.

Russian officials have not yet reacted to the meeting of Lukashenka and Zelensky. Vladimir Putin remains careful when communicating with Zelensky. At the same time, the Russian President suggested that the ability to stop the war in eastern Ukraine might result in Zelensky’s becoming strong politician.

While both Russia and Ukraine are interested in settling the conflict, Lukashenka will aim to prepare the grounds for their negotiations. If no changes are made, Zelensky and Putin will meet in Minsk in keeping with the Normandy format.

Lukashenka: Supporting Russia and Ukraine?

Lukashenka has always been trying to maintain close cooperation with Ukraine. During the term of Petro Poroshenko, Lukashenka provided the peacekeeping platform, which was appreciated by the then Ukrainian president. In addition, Poroshenko was very grateful for Belarus’ position on Ukraine’s sovereignty. Before the year of 2014, when Ukraine had been more dependent on Russia’s energy, Minsk had been showing more openness to Ukraine. But later, amid the Russia-Ukraine confrontation, Lukashenka started to play it safe.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka and Petro Poroshenko, phot. president.gov.by

After the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of violence in Donbas, Lukashenka made an attempt to take on a peacekeeping role in the conflict. Hosting the talks in 2014, Belarus was apparently eager to have some influence on the regulation of the conflict. However, Belarus has never presented a clear viewpoint on either Crimea or Donbas. While saying that Ukraine ‘should stay united’ and banning the groceries produced in Crimea, Lukashenka also claims that Crimea is de-facto a part of Russia. For example, during September’s meeting with Ukrainian media workers Lukashenka said:

“I believe that, as the president [of Russia] says, this issue is closed today and for good. This is what cautious and reserved [Russian FM Sergei] Lavrov says. So does the entire leadership. There is a consensus in the Russian society on this issue. There is no other issue where the Russian government has such support of the Russians as on Crimea”.

In view of a closer integration of Belarus and Russia that has recently intensified, Lukashenka seems to be bent on polishing the international image of Belarus. The situation in Ukraine provides him with an opportunity to show off his peacekeeping intentions again and again.

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Alesia Rudnik, belsat.eu

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