Lukashenko Reaffirms Belarus' Backing for Putin on Ukraine

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Friday restated his loyalty to Russia's position on the war in Ukraine, while acknowledging he holds his own perspective on certain aspects of the conflict.

Speaking at a meeting of the governing body of the Eurasian Economic Union — a Russian-led bloc that also includes Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan — Lukashenko said he had told President Vladimir Putin directly about his understanding of the situation in Ukraine, but insisted Belarus would always remain committed to the shared course with Moscow and has "never been a traitor."

Military buildup continues

Lukashenko said that, like Putin, he closely follows developments on the front lines, which he claimed gives both leaders a more nuanced approach to the war. Kazakhstan's president has twice this year proposed freezing the conflict to revive diplomatic talks.

Belarus allowed Russia to use its territory as a staging ground for the 2022 invasion, though Lukashenko has maintained that Belarusian troops would not be deployed directly in the fighting. At the same time, Minsk has stepped up military preparations, deploying Russia's nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile system and announcing a "targeted mobilization" of its armed forces.

Thaw with Washington

The remarks come as Belarus seeks closer ties with the United States following years of isolation under Western sanctions. The administration of President Donald Trump has reopened dialogue with Minsk, easing some sanctions in exchange for the release of prisoners. Most of the sanctions were originally imposed over Belarus' 2020 election crackdown and its role in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.