French President Macron called Lukashenko in surprise Belarus outreach

French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone call with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, according to Belarusian state media. The call was reportedly initiated by France. Security expert Rainer Saks of the Parempoolsed party commented on the development.

French President Emmanuel Macron made a surprise phone call to Belarusian authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, according to announcements from Belarusian authorities. The call was described as being initiated at France's request, marking an unusual direct diplomatic contact between Paris and Minsk.

The development was noted by Estonian security expert Rainer Saks, representing the Parempoolsed (Right-wingers) party, who drew attention to the significance of France reaching out directly to Lukashenko's government. Belarus has been under widespread Western sanctions since Lukashenko's disputed 2020 re-election and the brutal crackdown on protesters that followed.

France has at times pursued its own diplomatic channels in Eastern Europe, separate from broader EU or NATO consensus positions. Macron has previously faced criticism from Baltic and Eastern European partners for what they view as overly conciliatory gestures toward authoritarian leaders in the region.

The contents and outcome of the phone call were not immediately made public. Belarus remains closely aligned with Russia and has been used as a staging ground for Russian military operations against Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Any direct Western leader contact with Lukashenko is considered diplomatically sensitive given the circumstances.