France’s Macron issues warning to Belarus in rare phone call with Lukashenko

(Abbey Fenbert – The Kyiv Independent) French President Emmanuel Macron warned Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko not to escalate his country’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine during a phone call on May 24, a source close to Macron told Agence France-Presse (AFP). The reported call comes amid mounting speculation that Belarus may enter the war in support of Russia. Earlier, Belarusian state media also reported that the leaders spoke via phone, saying that the call had been initiated by the French side. The conversation marks the first recorded direct contact between Macron and Lukashenko since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. “Macron emphasized the risks for Belarus if it allows itself to be drawn into Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine,” the French source told AFP. – France’s Macron issues warning to Belarus in rare phone call with Lukashenko