Lukashenko: Solution to Ukrainian conflict is possible within a week

A solution to the conflict in Ukraine can be found within a week, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in an interview with the U.S. broadcaster NBC on the sidelines of the CIS summit in Astana, Kazakhstan on 14 October, BelTA has learned.

"It all depends on the US and the UK. If tomorrow you realize that we need to sit down at the negotiating table and find a solution, believe me, we will find a solution within a week," the head of state said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko was also asked about Ukraine's claims about mass graves and torture.

"You know, there is an information war going on. Ukrainians talk about mass graves, crimes committed by the Russian side. The Russian side similarly reveals mass crimes committed by the Ukrainian side. These are usual information attacks on each other,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “A war is raging. As a result of this war, in the course of this war, anything is possible, including what you said," the president said.

He stressed that first of all it is necessary to stop the war and look for a way out rather than talk how bad things are. "We know that things are bad. War is always bad," he said. “Not long ago I said that the world is preoccupied with the problem right now, and is looking for an answer as to who is to blame. Look, let us figure it out later. People are dying every day. Let us stop the war and come to an agreement. And then we will look into who is right and who is wrong. I guess this is a normal formula,” the president said

The head of state said that the process of negotiations started but then stopped. “Zelensky [the president of Ukraine] was forbidden to negotiate. By whom? Three guesses who it was. Zelensky is not independent. They spread fake news about who is right and who is wrong, blame each other. This is not the right way out. Thousands of people are dying every day. Including innocent civilians. That is the truth. Let us stop this conflict,” the Belarusian leader said.