Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei announced his country’s readiness to create conditions for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and to hold these negotiations on the territory of Belarus.

He explained during the ministerial meeting of the UN Security Council members on Thursday that “Minsk, as a direct neighbor, is interested in participating in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine on a strategic peace settlement”, stressing that Belarus “did not send at least one soldier or one piece of military equipment to Ukraine to participate in hostilities.

He rejected the West’s accusations of Belarus’ involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, noting that “independent experts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe confirm that Belarus is not a party to the conflict, based on the norms and principles of international law.” and that “all Western accusations against Belarus are unfounded and groundless.” He pointed out that Belarus “has never called for war, but has obligations as an ally of Moscow.”