Vladimir Putin's main ally has encouraged Russia and Ukraine to discuss a settlement to the crisis, while Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, announced that his troops had taken control of a strategically important Russian town.

The remarks were delivered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during a comprehensive interview with Russian state television in the midst of Ukraine's continuous border incursion, which began on August 6.

According to Mr. Lukashenko, only "high-ranking people of American origin" supported the prolongation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

He continued by saying that Kyiv was being encouraged to fight by the West because it wants Russia and Ukraine to "destroy each other".

The Belarusian president also said - without providing evidence - that Kyiv could have plans to attack Belarus, and said that Minsk would not allow Ukrainian troops to "trample on our country".

The Ukrainian military did not respond to the claims.

Mr Lukashenko has positioned himself as a main backer of Mr Putin since the Russian president ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, part of which was staged from Belarusian soil.

Moscow has said any peace talks should be based on Ukraine ceding land amounting to a fifth of its territory - much of it seized by Russian forces.

Ukraine says Kyiv would be prepared for talks provided Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity were fully respected.

Mr Lukashenko's comments come as Mr Zelenskyy said Ukraine's military had taken full control of Sudzha. It is the largest Russian town to fall to Ukraine since the start of their cross-border incursion.