Lead
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, in an interview with RT, portrayed Europe as reluctant to go to war with Belarus and Russia despite bellicose rhetoric, described his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin as "brotherly," and dismissed Western leaders such as France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Friedrich Merz as "transient figures." The interview, conducted in Minsk, was summarized by TASS, the Russian state news agency, across several articles published on April 18 and April 20.
Lukashenko's comments are notable for their sweeping scope—touching on Ukraine, Venezuela, Iran, and the United States—and for the Belarusian leader's assertion that he has not engaged in dialogue with Washington against Moscow or Beijing. He also suggested that US President Donald Trump could potentially travel to Russia as a "peacemaker" via Belarus, a claim carried by TASS without elaboration.
Coverage comparison
All statements from Lukashenko reported in this article originate from TASS's English-language service, which aggregated his remarks from the RT interview. Given that TASS is a Russian state agency with a known editorial alignment with Kremlin positions, the coverage should be understood as reflecting Lukashenko's framing of events, with TASS providing mainly direct quotes and summaries.
The first TASS article focused on Lukashenko's defense of his ties with Russia and China, particularly in the context of Western sanctions. The second compiled his views on a range of international issues, including Putin, Ukraine, Venezuela, and the Middle East. A third article highlighted his criticism of Macron and Merz. No independent or non-Russian sources were available for this story, so all claims are based solely on TASS's reporting of the RT interview.
Key claims
Relations with Russia and China
Lukashenko insisted he maintains no dialogue with Americans against Russia or China. "At the first meeting, I told them: guys, Russia and China are not only our long-time partners but also friends," he said, according to TASS. He added that when the West imposed sanctions, "China and Russia opened their doors, we were basically saved." He expressed awareness of how the West treats him, saying, "No matter what negotiations the West has conducted with me, I understand perfectly well that I am not their son of a bitch."
On Putin, Lukashenko described their relationship in personal terms: "Putin and I are friends - even more than friends. We talk like brothers." He noted that Putin "wants to see me and be friends with me," and that he is "happy to be friends with Putin."
Ukraine and Zelensky
Lukashenko warned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky risks losing Ukraine by continuing to follow the West. "He must understand that if he doesn't stop, he will lose Ukraine," Lukashenko said. He characterized Zelensky's policy as one of "militarization," undertaken "in the hope that they will provide him with money and weapons." Lukashenko also blamed the Ukrainian leader's inexperience for failing to counter nationalist sentiment: "He didn't reverse the nationalism to which the Ukrainian people were prone. Since he was inexperienced, he didn't manage many processes, and the nationalists gained the upper hand."
Venezuela and Maduro
Lukashenko called on the US government to "back down and release" Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and to "reach an agreement with Venezuela." He added, "There's no need to admit mistakes or anything like that."
Middle East and Iran
Regarding the conflict between Iran and the US, Lukashenko predicted, "There will be no winners here." He acknowledged that "peace has won a little so far, but it is so fragile," and said sustaining a ceasefire would depend heavily on US President Donald Trump. He suggested that Trump's "intuition and instincts prevailed" after realizing the risks of further escalation.
Western leaders as 'transient'
Lukashenko referred to Macron and Merz as "transient leaders," saying, "Western politicians are all transient figures… They came, grabbed, and left." He claimed they "do not think about the people of France or Germany," and added that Western countries, which once "used to teach" post-Soviet states, should now visit and learn from them—though, he lamented, "they are reluctant to make conclusions."
Lukashenko also agreed with an RT host that the West envies him because of his high domestic approval rating, saying, "May God allow any Western politician to have [an approval rating of] at least 60%."
Europe's reluctance to go to war
Repeating a theme of his interview, Lukashenko asserted that "Europe does not want to go to war with Belarus and Russia, despite the rhetoric." The claim was highlighted by TASS but was not elaborated upon in available extracts.
Perspectives
Lukashenko's perspective: The Belarusian leader presents himself as a pragmatic figure maintaining friendly ties with Russia and China, while portraying Western leaders as out-of-touch and hypocritical. His comments on Ukraine and the Middle East reflect a view that US-led policies are destabilizing and ultimately harmful to all parties.
TASS's perspective: As the official Russian state news agency, TASS highlights Lukashenko's alignment with Moscow and strategically frames his statements to reinforce narratives about Western decline and Russian-Belarusian solidarity. The coverage does not include independent verification or counterpoints.
Potential Western perspective (not included in sources): Western governments would likely reject Lukashenko's characterizations, particularly his dismissal of European leaders and his warnings about Ukraine. They may view his remarks as propaganda aimed at undermining Western unity, echoing similar statements from Russian officials.
Corrections and context
This article is based exclusively on TASS's reporting of Lukashenko's RT interview, and no other outlets were available for verification. All claims should be treated as Lukashenko's statements rather than independently established facts. The interview itself was conducted by RT, a Russian state-funded broadcaster, which suggests a controlled environment for Lukashenko's remarks. As of this writing, there has been no response from the French, German, American, or Ukrainian governments to Lukashenko's comments.