The French president urged his Belarusian counterpart not to let his country be “dragged” into Russia’s war in Ukraine.
It’s a call that can change a lot of things. This Sunday, Emmanuel Macron telephoned Alexander Lukashenko, Belarusian president and ally of Russia. The French president urged his Belarusian counterpart not to let his country be “dragged” into the war in Ukraine, reports TV5Monde Info.
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According to the entourage of the French head of state, “he also urged Alexander Lukashenko to take the necessary steps to improve relations between Belarus and Europe.”
Frosty relationships
On the Quai d’Orsay website, the French government writes: “France does not recognize the legitimacy of Alexander Lukashenko. Consequently, our ambassador was forced to leave Belarusian territory on October 17.” President Macron’s previous telephone call to Alexander Lukashenko dates back to 2022, a few days after the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. At the time, the French president was already asking Lukashenko to ensure the withdrawal of Russian troops from his country, “Russia’s de facto accomplice in the war against Ukraine.”
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But despite the sensitivity of the relationship between the two countries, the exchange is not condemned. A press release from the Belarusian presidency then underlines that this Sunday’s call took place “at the initiative of the French side.” Minsk also explains that “the two heads of state discussed regional issues as well as Belarus’s relations with the EU and with France in particular.”
The threat from Minsk
If Belarus is back in the news, it is because Ukraine says it fears that Russia will use its ally to launch a new offensive from the north.
In addition, last night, Moscow reportedly used its Orechnik hypersonic ballistic missile, deployed in Belarus a year ago. On X, Emmanuel Macron denounces “a form of headlong flight”.
Russian strikes follow one another against civilian objectives in Ukraine, like again last night.
France condemns this attack and the use of the Oreshnik ballistic missile, which above all signify a form of headlong flight and the impasse of Russia’s war of aggression.…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 24, 2026
This week, the two neighbors also conducted joint military exercises involving nuclear weapons. But Russia, like Belarus, refutes the idea that Moscow was preparing to involve Minsk in the conflict.
