It was reported that Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, along with leaders of Russia and Hungary, was invited to join US President Donald Trump's newly established Gaza "Peace Council".
It was reported that Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has received an invitation from US President Donald Trump to join his newly established "Peace Council".
The council was announced by the White House last week as an international institution aimed at managing affairs in Gaza after a ceasefire.
On Monday, Belarusian state media quoted Rouslan Varankov, a spokesperson for the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, who said that Lukashenko had received an individual invitation from Trump.
A ministry statement said, "In the context of resolving the Gaza issue, Belarus proposed becoming a founding member of the Peace Council - a new international organization."
"We highly appreciate the American side's recognition of Belarus as a country ready to take on the lofty responsibility of building lasting peace and willing to lead by example, investing in a safe and prosperous future for generations to come, which is clearly stated in the message."
Russia invaded Ukraine through Belarusian territory in 2022, and Belarus also hosts Russian "Orelshchik" strategic missiles and nuclear weapons, raising concerns in Europe.
According to its statement, Minsk is delighted with this invitation and believes it proves Lukashenko's "personal achievements".
The statement added, "We also view this proposal as recognition of the personal achievements and international prestige of the head of state of the Republic of Belarus. The proposal has been reported to the president of the Republic of Belarus, who has taken a positive attitude towards it."
Minsk expressed hope that Trump's initiative would be expanded to cover other conflicts.
The statement said, "Our position is as follows: we are prepared to participate in the activities of the Peace Council, while taking into account and hoping that the organization will expand its scope and powers far beyond the authorized scope proposed in the initiative."
"This would enable it to actively participate in the global process of resolving any international conflict, ultimately helping to build a new security architecture, which Belarus has been actively promoting in recent years."
Although Washington had previously excluded the Minsk regime, the Trump administration has facilitated dialogue with Minsk and helped release some political prisoners in 2025.
The Kremlin said on Monday that Russian President Putin was also invited to join Trump's Peace Council; Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin is currently reviewing the proposal and hopes to communicate with US officials to clarify details.
Trump has invited 60 world leaders to join. Kazakhstan has accepted the invitation, and Hungary and Vietnam confirmed their participation over the weekend.
What is the "Peace Council"?
The council was announced by the White House last week, designed as an international institution to manage affairs in Gaza after a ceasefire.
The council is chaired by Trump, with members including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Wetenkov, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Sir Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister.
According to a draft charter obtained by Bloomberg, Trump will serve as the founding chair and decide who to invite to join.
Each member country has one vote in decision-making, but all votes require the approval of the chair. Members can serve up to three years, but countries that donate at least $1 billion can obtain permanent membership.
Once three countries approve the charter, the council will officially be established.
The council's responsibilities are not limited to monitoring the ceasefire. The charter describes it as "an international organization aimed at promoting stability, restoring reliable and legitimate governance, and ensuring lasting peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict."
Critics warn that Trump may be creating an institution that rivals the United Nations, which he has long criticized.
Original: toutiao.com/article/7597242368118555172/
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