Belarusian leader denies apologising to Zelenskyy: "We had nothing to apologise for"

Natalia Eismont, spokesperson for self-proclaimed Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, has denied that Lukashenko apologised to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a telephone conversation that took place during the first few days of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Source: Eismont in a comment to Russian media outlet RBC

Details: Eismont confirmed that a conversation with Zelenskyy had taken place in the early days of Russia's full-scale invasion. She said it had occurred "solely due to the emotional reaction of Lukashenko's youngest son Nikolai, who had Zelenskyy as a personal contact in his phone". 

Quote: "This was the essence of the conversation: first and foremost, our president said that the conflict [the Russo-Ukrainian war – ed.] had erupted on Ukrainian land, on Zelenskyy's territory, and that in the fullness of time, it would be him more than anyone who would be held accountable for people’s deaths! That is why our president called for negotiations, and this was done: three rounds in Belarus, and subsequently in Istanbul.

The president of Belarus did not offer Zelenskyy any apologies, for the simple reason that we have nothing to apologise for."

Background: Zelenskyy revealed in an interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman that on the second or third day of Russia's full-scale invasion, Lukashenko apologised in a phone call for the missile strikes being launched on Ukraine from Belarusian territory and even suggested that Ukraine retaliate by striking the Mozyr Oil Refinery in Belarus.

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