Zelensky stated that Lukashenko apologized in the early days of the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the formal leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, apologized in the early days of the war and insisted that he was not responsible for the missiles being launched from his country's territory. The head of state shared this during a podcast with Lex Fridman, which was published by the President's Office on Sunday, January 5.     Zelensky mentioned that Lukashenko claimed he had tried to dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin from attacking Ukraine.   "You believe me, Volodya, it’s not me, he told me. He said he does not control the missiles, that it is Putin," the Ukrainian president recalled the conversation.   Zelensky responded to Lukashenko that he is "just as much a murderer." To which the Belarusian leader replied that "you cannot fight with the Russians."   Then, according to Zelensky, Lukashenko suggested that Ukraine retaliate by striking the Mozyr Oil Refinery in Belarus.   Previously, Blinken outlined the conditions for peace in Ukraine. The U.S. Secretary of State also stated that Russia seriously considered the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine, but China dissuaded it from doing so.