Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has called for talks following speculation in Kiev that his country could become more directly involved in Russia's war against Ukraine.
Lukashenko said he had recently received a delegation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and warned him against dragging Belarus into the war, according to comments reported by the state news agency BelTA.
"Our position is peace-loving," Lukashenko said during a meeting with Andrei Vorobyov, the governor of the Moscow region. "Let's negotiate, people."
Tensions between Minsk and Kiev have been rising. Ukraine has warned Belarus against playing an active role in the war and accused it of preparing attacks. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago, its forces advanced from Belarusian territory toward Kiev.
Lukashenko is one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest allies but has so far refrained from committing Belarusian troops to the conflict. Media reports have suggested that the Kremlin has increased pressure on Minsk as Russian forces struggle to make significant gains in Ukraine's Donbass region.
Lukashenko insisted that Belarus had no intention of attacking Ukraine. He said only Ukrainian territorial defence units - the volunteer reserve forces responsible for local defence - were stationed on the other side of the border.
"Are we really going to shoot at these machine fitters, milkmaids and workers who do not want to fight against Belarusians? We do not want to fight against Ukrainians either," he said.
He added that he was even prepared to open the border so Ukrainians living near Belarus could gather berries and mushrooms in the area.
Zelensky, meanwhile, doubled down on accusations that Minsk was preparing for military action.
"Along our state border with Belarus, construction work is being completed on roads, weapons depots and fuel depots that have no purpose other than a military one," Zelensky said on Telegram on Thursday.
He published maps and satellite images that he said supported the claims and called on Belarus to de-escalate and halt the construction work.
