A demonstration in Minsk (Belarus), August 18, 2020. - VSPress / SIPA

A Russian intervention in Belarus would be "the worst" that can happen, warned the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron on Friday during a meeting with the Presidential Press Association in Paris. "Any external intervention in Belarus (...) would lead to internationalize this question", and "the worst is the Russian intervention", declared the Head of State, while his Russian counterpart Vladimir Poutine said he was ready Thursday to deploy forces in that neighboring country if the situation escalates.

With German Chancellor Angela Merkel, "we do not want to have the reiteration of what happened in Ukraine", insisted Emmanuel Macron.

The way of mediation

For the French head of state, any external intervention "would be unwelcome". "Our will is to engage Russia in a dialogue on Belarus and to help us convince President Lukashenko of the need to accept mediation from the OSCE" (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe), said he continued.

“What President Putin could say to Chancellor Merkel and to myself is that he was in favor of OSCE mediation but not President Lukashenko. So he has to make efforts to help us in this direction, ”insisted Emmanuel Macron.

"Respect democratic choices"

EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell has already called on Moscow on Friday to refrain from intervening in the crisis in Belarus and to “respect the democratic choices” of the Belarusian people.

Vladimir Putin, whose country plays a key role in resolving this crisis, said he was ready to deploy forces in Belarus if the post-election dispute escalates there, while calling on the parties to a negotiated settlement.

Alexander Lukashenko had said in mid-August that he had received a promise of “help” from Moscow to preserve the security of his country.

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  • Diplomacy
  • Russia
  • Belarus
  • Emmanuel Macron