Lukashenka meets with Kuchma: I can't stand mediation

A former president of Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma, has arrived in Minsk to take part in a trilateral meeting on Ukraine. He talked to the Belarusian dictator before the meeting.

It is reported by BelTA news agency.

Lukashenka said at the meeting he “cannot stand mediation”.

“Don't read and don't listen to what people say about publicity moves and image. We don't need it. You know it well,” he stressed.

“I cannot stand mediation. Together we will do our best for our Ukraine in order to ease tensions in eastern Ukraine. We are deeply interested in it,” Lukashenka added.

A meeting of a trilateral contact group to seek a solution to the situation in eastern Ukraine will be held in Minsk today or tomorrow.

Second president of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma, Russian ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov and an OSCE representative are expected to participate in the meeting.

On July 29, Lukashenka agreed to host talks in Minsk to solve the Ukrainian crisis. According to the press service of the Belarusian president, the proposal was made by president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in a telephone conversation.

According to Poroshenko, the contact group will discuss two issues, the release of all hostages taken by militants and securing access of international experts to the crash site of the Malaysian plane. He noted the issues of hostages should be solved urgently because some of them are wounded and need medical attention.