July 4, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has sent a message of greetings to US President Donald Trump and “all Americans” on Independence Day, wishing them “peace, well-being and prosperity,” his press office reports.
Relations between Minsk and Washington have been deteriorating in recent years, but “this situation goes against the national interests of both our countries and our peoples. It’s time to change it,” he stressed.
Belarus has always advocated a constructive and respectful dialogue with the US, Łukašenka added. “I hope for the restoration of positive dynamics of interstate contacts and implementation of mutually beneficial projects at both bilateral and multilateral levels,” the message reads.
During Joe Biden’s presidency in 2021-2024, Łukašenka sent his Independence Day greetings only to the American people, in line with his usual approach toward nations he regards as “unfriendly.”
Belarus is under US sanctions, but Minsk has allegedly been involved in non-public contacts with Washington for a year. These resulted in the recent visit by Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, to Minsk and the subsequent release of 14 prisoners, including prominent opposition figure Siarhiej Cichanoŭski.
It was the first public visit by a high-ranking US official in five years after Łukašenka declared himself the winner of the disputed 2020 election.
