Łukašenka tasks diplomats with improving ties with Washington

July 31, Pozirk. Donald Trump’s presidency in the United States has opened up a window of opportunity for Belarus to improve relations with Washington, Alaksandar Łukašenka has told diplomats in Minsk.

“You know Trump’s principle – America first but maybe it’s better this way than the ‘liberal world order’ that existed under [previous US President Joe] Biden,” the state-run BelTA news agency quoted him as saying. “Recent meetings with the Americans have shown that they are ready to listen without any flattery on our part. Trump’s return [may help] to sort out some of the mess that the Americans have created and that interferes with our activities in the global markets.”

“Our task is to grab this chance while being firm in defending Belarus’ interests, not agreeing to concessions to our own disadvantage,” the Belarusian ruler stressed.

The statement comes about a month after a US delegation headed by Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, met with Łukašenka in Minsk in the first high-level official meeting in five years after the latter declared himself the winner in the disputed 2020 election. Following this visit, Minsk released 14 prisoners, including the prominent opposition figure Siarhiej Cichanoŭski.

Belarusian officials have indicated that Minsk has engaged with Washington since mid-2024. Since then, the Belarusian ruler has pardoned more than 300 imprisoned regime critics.

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