国际英语新闻:Putin, European Council head discuss Belarus

MOSCOW, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and European Council President Charles Michel discussed the situation in Belarus in a phone call Tuesday.

Putin expressed concern over the attempts of some countries to put pressure on the Belarusian leadership and "in every possible way" to destabilize the political situation in Belarus, the Kremlin said in a news release.

Interest was also expressed in preventing confrontation in Belarus, according to the release.

Earlier in the day, Putin held phone calls on Belarus separately with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Belarus is engulfed in mass protests after incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won a sixth term during the Aug. 9 elections, with the opposition refusing to recognize the results.

On Monday, Lukashenko said at a rally in Minsk that there would be no re-election, adding he could share presidential power in accordance with the country's constitution.