PARIS — French President Emanuel Macron discussed with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukachenko on Saturday the latest developments of the Russian invasion of Ukraine over telephone.

During the conversation, Macron made a point of denouncing the seriousness of a decision (by Belarus) that would authorize Russia to deploy nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil, according to a press release from the Elysee Palace.

He requested the president of Belarus to demand the withdrawal of Russian troops from Belarusian soil as quickly as possible, as these troops are waging a unilateral and unjust war.

He emphasized the need to cooperate with the international community in carrying out humanitarian operations to come to the aid of the Ukrainian people,” the statement noted.

“The President of the French Republic emphasized the extent to which brotherhood between the Belarusian and Ukrainian peoples should make Belarus refuse to be Russia’s vassal and de facto accomplice in the war against Ukraine,” it added. — KUNA