Overview
- Belarus’s state news agency BelTA said on Sunday that French President Emmanuel Macron phoned President Alexander Lukashenko and that the two discussed regional issues and Belarus’s relations with the EU.
- The claim was repeated by Russian agency TASS, but the French presidency had not publicly confirmed the call at the time of reporting.
- AFP, citing a source in Macron’s administration, reported that Macron urged Lukashenko to avoid dragging Belarus into the war in Ukraine and to take steps to improve ties with Europe.
- The report originates from Lukashenko’s press service as conveyed by BelTA, creating a verification gap because the claim comes from Minsk’s official channel.
- The development links to Macron’s recent push to reopen technical talks with Russia and could test EU unity on engagement; watchers should look for French confirmation and statements from EU capitals and Kyiv about coordination.