Emmanuel Macron warned Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko against deeper involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine during a phone call on Sunday, May 24th.
According to a source close to the French presidency, the conversation marked the first reported direct contact between the two leaders since the early days of the Russian invasion in 2022.
For the French side, it appears Macron stressed the risks to Belarus of being drawn further into what he described as Russia’s “war of aggression” against Ukraine. He also urged Lukashenko to improve relations with Europe at a time of growing regional tensions and increasing military activity near NATO’s eastern border.
The call came after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky ordered reinforcements to the Belarusian border earlier this month, warning that Moscow could be preparing a new offensive from Belarusian territory. Russia denied the claims, but concerns have intensified following recent Russian-Belarusian nuclear drills and the deployment of Moscow’s nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system in Belarus.
The latest diplomatic exchange coincided with another major Russian missile and drone barrage against Kyiv, during which Russia reportedly used its Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile for the third time in the war.
Analysts say growing military coordination between Moscow and Minsk is increasing fears in Europe that Belarus could become more directly involved in the conflict if tensions continue to escalate.
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