Zelenskyy states Lukashenko apologized for missile strikes on Ukraine in early days of Russian invasion. Belarus responds

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated this in an interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman, according to the President's Office.

According to him, in the early days of the war, he had a phone conversation with Lukashenko: "He apologized. He said, 'It’s not me. Missiles were launched from my territory, but it was Putin who launched them. Those were his words.'"

"'Believe me, Volodymyr, it’s not me. I don’t control this, it’s just missiles, it’s Putin,'" Zelenskyy recalled the conversation.

In response, the Ukrainian president told the Belarusian leader that he was "just as much a murderer" as Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, Lukashenko claimed, "You cannot fight against the Russians."

Additionally, Lukashenko suggested to Zelenskyy that he retaliate by striking the Mozyr oil refinery in Belarus.

Belarus' response

In a statement to the Russian propaganda outlet RBC, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's spokesperson, Natallia Eismant, denied President Zelenskyy's statement.

“The President of Belarus did not offer any apology to Zelenskyy because we have nothing to apologize for,” Eismant emphasized.

She explained that the only conversation between the leaders of Ukraine and Belarus in the early days of the full-scale invasion occurred because of the emotional reaction of Lukashenko's youngest son, Nikolai, who had Zelenskyy’s contact in his phone.

“The essence of that conversation was this: our president first stated that the conflict began on Ukrainian soil, in Zelenskyy’s territory, and that Zelenskyy will bear the greatest responsibility for the loss of people’s lives,” Eismant said.

• Earlier, Lukashenko stated that Republican Donald Trump should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize if he ends the war in Ukraine.