Belarus in June 2026: the most important developments in politics
In June 2026 the politics of Belarus were dominated by tension with Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made threats against Belarus and, around 22 June, gave President Alexander Lukashenko a one-week deadline, which the Kremlin called aggressive. Lukashenko discussed a meeting on Ukraine and warned against dragging Belarus into the war. Earlier, on 16 June, he called for a compromise between Russia and Ukraine and apologized to Zelenskyy for past remarks. Lukashenko also demanded that Ukraine answer for a bus attack, and Belarus said it plans to draw the UN Security Council's attention to what it calls Kyiv's aggressive statements. Russia's foreign minister Lavrov said Russia is prepared to act on security guarantees for Belarus. Putin and Lukashenko met in Valdai on 26 June, with the Kremlin saying no statements would follow, and again informally on 29 June, when Putin reaffirmed Belarus's role as a venue for negotiations. Belarus and Russia will hold new consultations on a Union State security guarantees treaty in September.
Relations with China deepened. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng visited Belarus on 6 June with cooperation proposals in machinery, agriculture, medicine and artificial intelligence. On 8 June Lukashenko said the decision to deepen cooperation with China had proved correct. On 29 June Chinese President Xi Jinping met Lukashenko in Beijing and pledged support for Belarus's sovereignty and continued development assistance.
Belarus also signaled openness to the West. Lukashenko said on 5 June that Belarus is ready to resume partnership with Denmark, and Belarus expressed readiness for respectful dialogue with Sweden. Belarus and Russia presented a joint report saying the European Union ignores systemic human rights shortcomings. The European Commission was reported to be planning a tougher visa policy toward Russia, Belarus and Iran. Lukashenko ordered a ban on children's trips abroad without state approval, and his remark calling the situation in Gaza a "holocaust" drew condemnation from Israel.
Within the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia is unlikely to return to the alliance, while Russia said Armenia remains a member.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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