‘Trump is preventing World War III’ – Lukashenko warns Ukraine conflict could turn nuclear
Key Takeaways
- Lukashenko credited the US president with helping prevent a Third World War despite his sometimes contradictory actions.
- The Belarusian leader warned that continued escalation in Ukraine could lead to a wider nuclear confrontation.
- Lukashenko criticised the UN and OSCE and urged renewed negotiations to prevent further conflict.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has credited US President Donald Trump with helping to prevent a Third World War, warning that continued escalation of the conflict in Ukraine could lead to a nuclear confrontation.
Speaking at the fourth International Conference on Eurasian Security in Minsk on Tuesday, Lukashenko said Trump's actions, despite sometimes appearing contradictory, had helped prevent the conflict from developing into a wider global war.
"Through his actions, however contradictory they may be, Trump has essentially been keeping, and is still keeping, the world from a Third World War, which could erupt into a nuclear conflict," Lukashenko said.
The Belarusian president argued that Trump's attempts to end the fighting in Ukraine deserved support, regardless of the motivations behind his decisions.
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He warned that failure to stop the conflict could have consequences extending far beyond Ukraine and Europe.
"If we do not stop and instead follow the path of escalation, we will definitely end up in a Third World War," he warned.
Lukashenko also cautioned that geographical distance would offer little protection in the event of a nuclear confrontation, saying countries separated from Europe by an ocean would not necessarily be safe.
Beyond the conflict in Ukraine, the Belarusian leader criticised international organisations, including the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
He accused the institutions of failing to prevent conflicts and uphold international law.
Lukashenko called for renewed international dialogue and cooperation, arguing that the parties involved would eventually have to reach an agreement.
"We will have to come to an agreement sooner or later anyway. But it is better, much better, sooner rather than later," he concluded.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
