{"id":184373,"date":"2026-04-21T12:13:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T09:13:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/184373\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T13:11:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T10:11:29","slug":"vilnius-signals-readiness-for-lower-level-dialogue-with-belarus","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/184373\/","title":{"rendered":"Vilnius signals readiness for lower-level dialogue with Belarus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Deividas Matulionis\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (LRT \/ Still by Pozirk)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

April 21, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Vilnius is not ruling out dialogue with Minsk at a \u201clower political level,\u201d Deividas Matulionis, a senior aide to the Lithuanian president, has told \u017dini\u0173 Radijas<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dialogue is under consideration and exists in some form, but the other side must also show goodwill, Delfi <\/em>reported, citing the official. However, this form of dialogue and existing contacts do not signal any shift in Lithuania\u2019s policy, he said, adding that there are currently no grounds for such a change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier, Lithuanian Foreign Minister K\u0119stutis Budrys said he would like to see excellent relations with Belarus. Responding, Rus\u0142an Varanko\u016d, spokesman at the Belarusian foreign ministry, reaffirmed Minsk\u2019s intentions of having \u201cgood-neighborly and mutually beneficial relations with Lithuania\u201d and its desire to \u201cnormalize them.\u201d Belarus is \u201cfully prepared for constructive dialogue,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On April 2, Lithuanian President Gitanas Naus\u0117da said that Vilnius expects signs of goodwill from Minsk over the next few weeks, reflecting genuine efforts to normalize relations. He set out conditions which include an end to irregular crossings by third-country migrants via Belarus and to incursions of cigarette-smuggling balloons, as well as safe return of all stranded Lithuanian trucks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk has been insisting on political-level contacts with Vilnius, yet Lithuania rejected direct diplomatic talks, having significantly downgraded official contacts after what it described as Belarus\u2019 rigged 2020 presidential election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vilnius views the political negotiations with Minsk as an attempt to break the international isolation of Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s regime and potentially pave the way for easing sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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