15 JUN 2026.
In a provocative new interview, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claims that Russia and Ukraine were on the verge of a peace agreement in early 2022, only for the deal to collapse after outside actors allegedly intervened. According to Lukashenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin was persuaded to withdraw troops from areas near Kiev based on assurances that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was prepared to negotiate a lasting settlement.
Lukashenko controversially alleges that intermediaries connected to Israel, what he called a “Jewish lobby,” and even the Vatican played roles in encouraging Moscow to pursue peace, only for the opportunity to disappear. He did not provide evidence for these claims or explain precisely whom he was referring to.
The remarks revive long-standing debates surrounding the failed Istanbul peace talks of March 2022. Russia maintains that Ukraine abandoned a draft agreement under pressure from Western leaders, including former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Ukraine disputes Moscow’s version of events, though former Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia has acknowledged Johnson’s involvement in discussions at the time.
Four years later, the question remains: Was peace possible in 2022, and if so, who stopped it?
‘Jewish lobby’ deceived Putin – Lukashenko
Russian President Vladimir Putin was deceived into withdrawing troops from near Kiev in 2022 by forces claiming to represent Vladimir Zelensky’s willingness to seek peace, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said.
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Released in 1972, “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” is widely regarded as one of the greatest recordings by the legendary Motown group The Temptations. Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, the song tells the story of children learning that their absent father was a wandering man who left behind little more than pain, rumors and unanswered questions.
The phrase “rolling stone” comes from the old proverb “A rolling stone gathers no moss,” referring to someone who never settles down. Barrett Strong explained that in his neighborhood it described a man who drifted from place to place, unable or unwilling to commit to family life.
Musically, the record was revolutionary. Producer Norman Whitfield transformed a modest song originally recorded by The Undisputed Truth into an epic, nearly 12-minute psychedelic soul masterpiece built around an unforgettable bass line, sparse percussion, strings and dramatic vocal exchanges. The single edit still ran almost seven minutes, extraordinarily long for a hit record, yet it climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won three Grammy Awards.
More than fifty years later, it remains a haunting meditation on family, abandonment and legacy. Many consider it the last great classic of The Temptations’ golden era and one of the defining achievements of the Motown sound.
The Temptations – Papa Was A Rolling Stone
1972 – Single Version
