Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has issued a strong warning that the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine could escalate into a global conflict if fighting continues and tensions rise further. Speaking in a recent interview, Lukashenko said the conflict must be halted immediately to prevent serious consequences for Europe and the rest of the world.

In an interview with The Record with Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax, the Belarusian leader stressed that prolonging the war poses severe risks and called for urgent action to stop further escalation.

“This conflict must be frozen,” Lukashenko said during the interview.

He warned that continued fighting could push the region, and possibly the world, toward a much larger and more dangerous confrontation. “The most dangerous thing is that this conflict will go on. And if the escalation is still there, the consequences might be very hard and very dangerous for Europe and for the entire world,” he said. Lukashenko further cautioned that the war could expand beyond its current boundaries if diplomatic efforts fail and military actions intensify.

“It will escalate into a global conflict. That is why we must extinguish this conflict right now when we have the opportunity,” he added.

Lukashenko’s comments reflect growing concerns among regional leaders about the long-term impact of the war, which has already caused widespread destruction, displacement, and instability. His appeal focused on the need to halt the conflict before it reaches a point where it becomes impossible to control. The Belarusian president emphasised that ongoing escalation could have devastating effects not just on Ukraine and Russia, but also on Europe as a whole and the wider international community. While he did not outline specific steps for freezing the conflict, his remarks highlighted the urgency of reducing hostilities.

Lukashenko’s warnings come at a time when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out the possibility of a ceasefire by Christmas, citing doubts about Russia’s willingness to accept new peace proposals. Speaking on Tuesday, Zelensky said that Ukraine is preparing for continued fighting, as Moscow is expected to reject a new peace plan backed by European partners.

According to Zelensky, a final version of the proposed peace framework is expected to be completed soon. He said the proposals would be finalised within two days and then handed over to Russia by the United States. Despite these diplomatic efforts, the Ukrainian president expressed little optimism about the Kremlin’s response. Zelensky said Kyiv expects Russia to refuse the plan, reinforcing Ukraine’s view that Moscow is not currently open to a ceasefire under the proposed terms.

Russia has already rejected calls for a Christmas truce, maintaining that any pause in fighting must align with its own demands. Moscow has made it clear that it will not agree to a ceasefire unless its conditions are met, a stance that continues to stall peace negotiations. Zelensky’s remarks underline Ukraine’s concern that diplomatic efforts may not yield immediate results and that military preparedness remains essential. The Ukrainian leader’s comments suggest that while Ukraine remains engaged in talks and negotiations, it does not expect a breakthrough in the near term and is preparing for the conflict to continue into the coming months.

The contrasting positions of Lukashenko and Zelensky highlight the deep divisions surrounding the war and the difficulty of reaching a ceasefire. While Belarus is calling for the conflict to be frozen to prevent wider instability, Ukraine remains cautious, citing Russia’s repeated rejection of ceasefire proposals. The warnings of a potential global conflict reflect broader international anxieties that the war could draw in more countries or lead to heightened geopolitical tensions if escalation continues unchecked.

As diplomatic efforts intensify, the coming days are expected to be critical, with the completion and submission of the European-backed peace proposal marking the next step in attempts to bring the conflict to a halt. For now, however, there appears to be no immediate path to a ceasefire, with both sides holding firm to their positions and the fighting continuing on the ground.