Zelensky: At the start of the Russian invasion, Lukashenko apologized for Russia launching missiles at Ukraine from Belarus.

A few days after the onset of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Belarusian self-proclaimed president Alexander Lukashenko apologized to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a conversation, expressing regret that Russia was using Belarus to shell Ukrainian territory.

Zelensky made this statement during an interview with American podcaster Lex Friedman.

"Within a few days, the first days of the war, I spoke with Lukashenko on the phone. And he apologized. He said, 'It's not me. Missiles were launched from my territory, Putin launched them – those are his words. I have witnesses. 'I'm sorry,' he said. Well, believe me, he said, believe me, Volodya, it’s not me. 'I don’t control it,' he told me. 'It's just missiles, it's Putin. I told him (Putin – ed.) not to,'" Zelensky quoted Lukashenko's words.

"I told him that he is just as much a murderer," the Ukrainian president noted. "And he responded, 'Understand, you cannot fight the Russians.' I told him: we have never fought. The war, the missiles came, I say, from your land, from Belarus. How could you allow this?"

Lukashenko, according to Zelensky, suggested in response that he strike a refinery.

"He told me: well, okay, respond (to these strikes – ed.). Hit the refinery, you know how much it means to me. Mozyr or whatever. I said to him: what are you talking about? What response?" – said Zelensky.

Background. Recall that earlier Zelensky stated that Trump is expecting him for a visit immediately after the inauguration. He believes that Trump can stop Putin "thanks to his determination."