Aug 17 (Reuters) - There have been direct contacts between Ukraine and Belarus but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy put a halt to them, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said during an online interview broadcast on Thursday. loadingThe last such contact occurred a few months ago, he said during in the interview with Diana Panchenko, a pro-Russian Ukrainian journalist. According to Lukashenko the topics discussed included a potential Belarus involvement in the war on Russian side, potential use of nuclear weapons and Wagner Group mercenaries, now stationed in Belarus. But we had these contacts, we talked. Writing by Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Alexander Lukashenko, Diana Panchenko, Lukashenko, Maxim Rodionov, Sandra Maler Organizations: Wagner Group, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Belarus, Russian Ukrainian