In a Bout of Deliberate Amnesia, Kremlin Hails Minsk Best Place for Negotiations Despite Previous Failures

The Kremlin stated that it considers Minsk the best location for trilateral talks between the leaders of Russia, the U.S., and Ukraine, following Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko’s proposal, Interfax reported.

“This issue has not been raised or discussed in any way. However, for us, Minsk is undoubtedly the best location. It is our key ally, making it the optimal place for negotiations,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said to journalists on March 5.

Earlier, in an interview with American blogger Mario Nawfal, released on March 5, Lukashenko suggested that peace negotiations on resolving the war in Ukraine could take place in Minsk.

The Belarusian leader invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and U.S. President Donald Trump to the Belarusian capital.

“If you want—come. It’s just 200 kilometers from the Belarusian border to Kyiv, a 30-minute flight. Come here, we’ll sit down, talk calmly—no noise, no shouting—and reach an agreement,” Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said.

“Tell Trump—I’m waiting for him here, along with Putin and Zelenskyy. We’ll sit down and negotiate peacefully—if you truly want an agreement.”

Read more

Category

War in Ukraine

Who Started the War in Ukraine? The Answer Hasn’t Changed

Feb 19, 2025 21:58

It is worth noting that previous agreements, Minsk I and Minsk II, which intended to stop Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ended up laying the ground for Moscow launching a full-scale invasion in 2022.

The first Minsk agreement was signed in September 2014, with mediation of France and Germany, after Russia covertly occupied Ukrainian Crimea in February 2014 and invaded the Donbas region in April 2014.

However, the attempted ceasefire quickly collapsed, giving Russia and its proxies time to regroup. By January 2015, Russian forces launched an offensive to capture Donetsk Airport and the strategic railway hub of Debaltseve.

Then President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, accepted a second ceasefire deal on February 2015, Minsk II, which ISW  called “a weak deal.”

The second Minsk agreement concealed Russia’s military vulnerabilities and provided the Kremlin with the time and space to prepare for a larger invasion.

“The West could have helped Ukraine reach a stronger deal in 2015,” the ISW wrote in a report released on February 11. “Minsk II helped Putin mask his demands for Ukraine’s surrender behind false calls for peace.”