February 28, Pozirk. Washington has very good relations with Belarus, US President Donald Trump told journalists yesterday near the White House before his trip to Texas.
Trump made this comment after a reporter asked whether he planned to restore ties with Belarus.
“The leader is a person for whom I have great respect. . . I really like their leader,“ Trump added, ignoring a follow-up question about whether he had ”any conditions” for Minsk.
About a year ago, Trump’s administration started expanding public contacts with Alaksandar Łukašenka’s regime.
Last February, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Smith visited Minsk to assist the release of three designated political prisoners. Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, met Łukašenka in Minsk in June. Their talks resulted in the release of 14 prisoners, including prominent opposition figure Siarhiej Cichanoŭski.
In mid-August, Trump had a phone call with Łukašenka before meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and later praised the Belarusian ruler as a “powerful leader.”
Minsk released more prominent jailed dissidents in September and December following Lukašenka’s talks with US diplomats.
In response, Washington lifted sanctions on Belarus’ national airline Biełavija and Belarusian potash fertilizers. In late 2025, the US Treasury published the general license authorizing transactions involving the Belarusian Potash Company, potash giant Biełaruskalij and its subsidiary Agrorozkvit LLC.
