MOSCOW, March 14. /TASS/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday that he was set to discuss later in the day with Russian President Vladimir Putin his reaction to the proposed ceasefire on Ukraine.
"Putin listened to US envoy yesterday [US special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff]. He will tell me now whether he agrees with him or not. We'll have dinner and talk until nightfall, as usual, discussing this issue. " Lukashenko said during 60 Minutes program on the Rossiya-1 TV channel when answering questions about the progress of the Ukrainian settlement.
The president of Belarus added that numerous questions remain regarding the ceasefire in Ukraine.
"What is Vladimir [Putin] is right about now is: okay, there is a truce, we are not shooting guns anymore, we are not killing, but what will Ukraine do during this time? Ukrainians will have the same question: what will the Russians do during this time? It will be much harder to keep it under control in Russia," Lukashenko said.
"The military-industrial complex will continue manufacturing tanks, shells, and ammunition. Yes indeed, they will not be dragged to the frontline," he continued. "Well, they will be in stock. Who will be against forbidding it? Nobody. The question is how can this be controlled by Ukrainians and the West?"
According to the Belarusian president, a question is still unanswered whether weapons would still supplied to Ukraine during the 30-day truce.
"The truce. Meanwhile, a stockpile of weapons and ammunition is stored in Rzeszow, Poland. The Americans lifted all kinds of bans [on weapons supplies] now that [US President Donald] Trump already announced about it," Lukashenko said.
"Do they intend to keep stuffing weapons and more mercenaries there for 30 days, and then start fighting again? More people will die, no one knows what will happen," he added.
A joint statement after the March 11 negotiations between the delegations of the United States and Ukraine in Jeddah said that Ukraine is ready to accept the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, while Washington will immediately cancel the pause in providing intelligence and resume providing military assistance to Kiev.
On March 13, Putin thanked Trump for participating in a peaceful settlement and supported the ceasefire. But the Russian leader raised several key questions - about the status of the Ukrainian military that invaded the Kursk region, about monitoring the truce, and about Kiev's actions during this period.
The Russian president said that Moscow agreed with the proposals to end hostilities in Ukraine, but they should lead to long-term peace and eliminate the root causes of the crisis.