The idea of hosting a high-stakes meeting between Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Vladimir Putin in Minsk is on the table, but it hasn’t been officially discussed yet.
According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, however, Minsk would be the perfect venue for such negotiations.
Minsk as a Preferred Negotiation Site
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has extended an invitation to the three leaders, offering Minsk as the platform for dialogue.
However, he made it clear that Belarus wouldn’t act as a mediator in the talks.
“We can host the meeting here, where everyone can sit down calmly, without shouting or noise, and reach an agreement,” Lukashenko said.
While Belarus is offering its capital as the location, it’s important to note that the country’s role will remain limited to providing the space for discussions rather than facilitating the talks themselves.
Kremlin’s Support for Minsk
Peskov echoed Lukashenko’s sentiments, stating that Minsk would be an ideal setting for negotiations.
“For us, Minsk is the best place; it is our key ally, so it is the best place for negotiations,” he affirmed.
Russia’s close ties with Belarus make the capital a natural choice in their view, even though the specifics of the proposed meeting between the US, Ukraine, and Russia have not yet been confirmed.
The Road to Peace Talks
During his election campaign, Donald Trump had promised to work on resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has met with Ukrainian President Zelensky on several occasions.
However, their most recent meeting ended in controversy after a tense exchange over security guarantees.
This led to Zelensky cutting his visit short and refusing to sign a key resource deal.
Trump, in turn, accused Zelensky of being unwilling to make peace and froze military aid to Ukraine.
However, Zelensky expressed regret over the incident on March 4, signaling his readiness to continue working towards peace under Trump’s leadership.
Moving Forward with Negotiations
Trump and Russian President Putin recently held a phone call on February 12, followed by meetings in Riyadh and Istanbul.
During these talks, they agreed to restore embassy staffing and set up a working group focused on Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that a direct meeting between Trump and Putin could be on the cards, but only if there’s substantial progress on a peace agreement.
Peskov emphasized that any such meeting would require thorough preparation and clear objectives.
Simply sitting down for an informal conversation wouldn’t be sufficient, he explained.
About Belarus
Belarus, officially known as the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the east, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest.
With a population of around 9.1 million, the country spans 207,600 square kilometers (80,200 square miles).
Minsk, the capital and largest city, holds special administrative status and serves as the focal point for political and cultural activities in the country.
Belarus experiences a hemiboreal climate, which adds another layer of uniqueness to its geographical landscape.