Ukraine war must end to prevent nuclear ‘abyss’ — Belarus leader

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko says Russia, Ukraine and the West must agree to halt the Ukraine conflict to avoid the “abyss of nuclear war” and insists Kyiv should accept Moscow’s demands.

“We must stop, reach an agreement, end this mess, operation and war in Ukraine,” Lukashenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top ally, tells AFP in Minsk.

“Let’s stop and then we will figure out how to go on living,” he says. “There’s no need to go further. Further lies the abyss of nuclear war. There’s no need to go there.”

Lukashenko accuses the West of seeking a conflict with Russia and of provoking the Ukraine war.

“You have fomented the war and are continuing it,” he says. “If Russia had not got ahead of you, members of NATO, you would have organized and struck a blow against it.”