Minsk’s role in Russo-Ukrainian confrontation increases

On April 24^th, President Lukashenko had an emergency telephone conversation with acting Ukrainian president Turchinov about the situation in Slovyansk. Later that day, Russia initiated a telephone conversation between foreign ministers of Russia and Belarus, in which the ministers raised important international issues. Amid escalating tension between the Kremlin and Kiev, and between Russia and the West, Minsk’s role in interpreting events in South-Eastern Ukraine is increasing. Despite closely coordinating their foreign policy with the Kremlin, the Belarusian authorities are interested in de-escalating the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. Belarus is attempting to find a balanced approach and not to spoil her relations with the new Ukrainian authorities.