Lukashenko dismisses Meloni as unfit to negotiate with Moscow over her gender
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has sparked a diplomatic row by declaring Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni unfit to negotiate with Moscow—because she is a woman. In a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Lukashenko argued that Meloni "cannot negotiate with Moscow" due to her gender and instead endorsed Macron as Europe’s lead interlocutor with Russia, according to reports in *Adevărul* and *Digi24* . The Belarusian leader also invited a French representative to Minsk and urged Macron to revive dialogue with the Kremlin.
The remarks come as Lukashenko positions Belarus as a mediator in the Ukraine war, despite his country’s role as a staging ground for Russian forces. Macron’s office has not yet responded to the comments, but the Italian government is expected to reject the gender-based dismissal of Meloni’s diplomatic credentials.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian tennis player Oleksandra Oliynykova has reignited the debate over Russian athletes’ participation in international sports. After losing to Russian opponent Diana Shnaider at the French Open, Oliynykova accused Shnaider of supporting the war by playing in a Gazprom-funded exhibition and demanded sanctions against her. "She doesn’t want to comment on the war, but I showed you the proof," Oliynykova said, criticizing tennis governing bodies for "hypocrisy" in allowing Russian players to compete . The controversy underscores the broader tension over Russia’s continued presence in global sports amid the ongoing conflict.
Lukashenko’s comments reflect his long-standing efforts to insert Belarus into European security discussions, often leveraging Macron’s willingness to engage with Moscow. His latest move risks further alienating Italy, a key EU member, while reinforcing perceptions of Belarus as a Kremlin-aligned disruptor.
Lukashenko dismisses Meloni as unfit to negotiate with Moscow over her gender
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