Lukashenko claims US "prohibits" Ukraine from negotiating with Russia

This is reported by Russian and Belarusian propaganda media.

Lukashenko made the claims on a Russian propaganda TV programme.

"If you mean Ukraine’s leadership, they absolutely are prohibited from negotiating. Americans want to get rid of Europe in one blow, in one measure and draw near China through Russia. Of course, by destroying the Russian Federation," Lukashenko said.

He also stated that Russians and Ukrainians are “of one blood", but Ukraine "does not understand" this.

"You cannot put forward preconditions. Sit down at the negotiating table, and put forward all the conditions there. And the second classic principle is compromising. You do not need to kill your own people. Well, we have the same blood flowing in our veins. I see that Russia understands this. Will Ukraine understand this? Well, we will see in the near future," stated the self-proclaimed leader of Belarus.

Lukashenko said that the president of Ukraine is "violating" the classic negotiation process, and that the Russian Federation is always open to negotiations.

"Russia has always been willing to negotiate. Ukraine does a 180 and says “we will not.'' And at the very beginning! Well, I said directly today: they probably will not let to reach an agreement again," Lukashenko noted.