Belarus’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Anatoly Glaz, has expressed strong support for Türkiye’s efforts in mediating between Russia and Ukraine, calling Ankara’s role in peace negotiations both effective and commendable. Speaking in his first interview since arriving in Ankara, Glaz said Belarus is genuinely pleased with Türkiye’s success in facilitating dialogue and remains hopeful for a peaceful resolution.
He emphasized that Belarus understands the difficulty of peace negotiations better than most, as it hosted the first three rounds of Russia-Ukraine talks. Glaz said this background gives his country a deep appreciation for Türkiye’s current efforts, especially as the war continues to cause humanitarian suffering.
The ambassador revealed that recent prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine most recently involving 1,000 detainees from each side—were made possible due to agreements reached in Istanbul and were carried out in Belarus. He also shared that about 400,000 Ukrainians have sought refuge in Belarus since the conflict began, making it a personal and humanitarian issue for his country.
Glaz expressed optimism about the upcoming Russia-Ukraine talks scheduled in Istanbul on June 2, stating that Belarus is closely watching the process and hopes for meaningful progress.
Beyond the war, the ambassador highlighted the strong economic partnership between Türkiye and Belarus, with bilateral trade nearing $2 billion. He believes that despite external limitations, the two countries have strong mutual understanding and a shared commitment to growth.
Glaz also shared his admiration for Türkiye, praising its diverse climate, welcoming atmosphere, and similarities between Ankara and his home city, Minsk. He added that the strong personal relationship between Presidents Erdogan and Lukashenko forms the backbone of Türkiye-Belarus relations, which diplomats must now continue to strengthen.
