Lukashenko says Macron sending close ally to Minsk to gather information, report back

Lead

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said French President Emmanuel Macron will send a close ally to Minsk on a fact-finding mission, after which the envoy will report back to Paris. Lukashenko made the remarks to reporters in Astana, according to TASS.

"I said: 'Listen, we’re talking right now – this is practically an open line. What can we possibly discuss this way? You didn’t come to Moscow after Yerevan, and you didn’t come to Minsk. What can we talk about?'" Lukashenko said, recounting his conversation with Macron. He added that Macron then asked whether Lukashenko would meet with his representative and explain matters to him.

"I said: 'Please, if you are afraid to fly to Minsk, send your representative.' In just a few days – on Monday or Tuesday, I don’t remember exactly – this person will be here," Lukashenko said. He declined to name the envoy, but described him as "Macron’s confidant, someone he fully trusts and who knows what’s going on."

Coverage Comparison

All of the reporting on this story comes from TASS, the Russian state news agency, which has published four separate articles. The first, dated May 29, centers on Lukashenko's announcement of the envoy's visit. The second, also from May 29, focuses on Lukashenko's account of a joke he made during the May 24 phone call about Macron meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Minsk. The third, dated May 24, reports on the phone call itself, noting it took place at the initiative of the French side and that the leaders discussed regional issues and Belarus-EU relations. The fourth, from May 29, details Lukashenko's comments about nuclear weapons during the same phone call.

While the first three articles are largely neutral in tone, the fourth uses the phrase "nuclear war" in its framing, reflecting the seriousness of the topic. Direct quotes from Lukashenko are used extensively across the articles, giving prominence to his perspective.

Key Claims

• Macron's representative will visit Minsk in the coming days, according to Lukashenko, who said he agreed to meet the envoy. (TASS)
• During the May 24 phone call, Lukashenko joked that Macron could come to Minsk along with Putin for direct talks, and "Macron seemed open to the idea," as Lukashenko told reporters. (TASS)
• Lukashenko said Belarus would use nuclear weapons only in the event of an attack on Belarus, responding to Macron's concerns about the recent Belarusian-Russian nuclear forces exercise. (TASS)
• The May 24 phone call took place at the initiative of the French side, according to the Belarusian leader's press service, as reported by TASS.
• During the call, Lukashenko and Macron discussed regional issues and relations between Belarus and the EU, particularly France. (TASS)