Ukraine paused all contacts with Belarus

The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on the air of the 1 + 1 TV channel that the Ukrainian government is monitoring the development of the situation in Belarus. According to him, Kiev will resume contacts with Minsk only after it gains confidence that this decision will not cause reputational, political or moral losses to Ukraine.

The minister stressed that the last conversation between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko took place before the elections, but now they have no contacts.

On the eve of the Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said that Belarusians persecuted in their homeland can receive protection in Ukraine. On August 25, Ukraine decided to simplify the entry for Belarusians, despite the quarantine restrictions. It is known that some citizens of Belarus have already left the country due to the threat of arrest.

We will remind that earlier Zelensky pointed out the need for Lukashenko to hold new elections.

- If I am a confident person, if I am confident in the choice of the people, what should I do in order to calm the people? I would hold new elections in a month. I would go and invite everyone who wants to go to them, invite international observers, I would invite everyone. And I would say to the Belarusian people: "Please, choose". After that, no one would have any questions, - said the Ukrainian leader.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has formed a military reserve in order to provide assistance to Belarus if needed. The head of state specified that Lukashenka asked him about it.