Belarus Says Ukraine not Prepared for Peace

(MENAFN) Belarusian Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhenkov has voiced concern over Ukraine’s reluctance to engage in peace efforts, taking aim at Kiev’s refusal to reclaim the remains of its deceased troops.

His remarks were made in the lead-up to his scheduled discussion with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday.

After the recent Russia-Ukraine negotiations held in Istanbul, Moscow declared it would hand over the bodies of approximately 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers as part of a “unilateral humanitarian gesture.”

On Saturday, Russia attempted to deliver the first group of 1,212 remains to Ukrainian authorities.

However, the exchange was unsuccessful as Ukraine did not appear at the agreed location, stating that no formal agreement had been made regarding the date of the return.

During an interview with a news agency on Tuesday, Ryzhenkov argued that Ukraine’s actions reflect a broader unwillingness to pursue peace, as doing so might not align with the current political or economic interests of its leadership.

He stated that such decisions show Ukraine is not “ready for peace yet.”

Ryzhenkov further emphasized the emotional toll on families, questioning the justification for such delays. “Of course, it may be politically disadvantageous for you to pay money, admit that there are 6 thousand of them, and so on. But what about relatives? What about loved ones?” he asked.

Ukraine has pledged to compensate bereaved families with nearly USD367,000, though many have allegedly faced prolonged waits and extensive bureaucratic procedures.

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