MINSK. July 6 (Interfax) - European countries are willing to start negotiations on Ukraine, but Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has assumed an irreconcilable position, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said.
"I am trying to explain and name the reasons why negotiations should be held now. The West's position is such: Europe is prepared to hold such negotiations now, I mean European countries, including France. And perhaps France above all. This is a war taking place in our home. Therefore, negotiations should be held as long as it's possible," Belarus's state news agency BelTA quoted Lukashenko as saying at a meeting with journalists in Minsk on Thursday.
"Zelensky has assumed an extreme position: fight until they liberate territories, even if it's to the last Ukrainian. The U.S. has assumed an intermediate position. They'll be prepared for negotiations after the counteroffensive," Lukashenko said.
A failed counteroffensive might prompt the Ukrainian leadership to agree to negotiations, he said.
"Then negotiations should be held. And Europe has agreed to this. Everything is focused on the counteroffensive," Lukashenko said.