{"id":203336,"date":"2026-09-11T16:56:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T13:56:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/203336\/"},"modified":"2026-09-11T16:56:07","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T13:56:07","slug":"lukasenka-says-he-is-looking-forward-to-meeting-coale-open-to-small-and-grand-bargains","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/203336\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka says he is looking forward to meeting Coale, open to \u201csmall and grand bargains\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Pul Pervogo)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

September 11,<\/strong> Pozirk.<\/strong><\/em> Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka has said he is looking forward to meeting US Special Envoy John Coale in Minsk and is open to business deals with the United States, including shipments of Belarusian potash fertilizers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have said already honestly that I am a Trumpist, I have supported [Donald] Trump. I see his mistakes. I tell this straight to my best friend, who is coming to us,\u201d he told state media journalists at the Abuz-Liasno\u016dski training ground near Baranavi\u010dy in the Brest region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sources reported that Coale was planning to visit Minsk on Monday, September 14, to secure the release of 200 to 300 political prisoners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka said he was open to both \u201csmall and grand bargains\u201d with the US president, indicating that he was ready to free more prisoners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo be it! Take them!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are open. They have lifted a number of sanctions from our enterprises and are ready to lift more. There are plenty of questions. The embassies. Let\u2019s discuss how to resume [their operation]. Nuclear materials and other matters \u2014 there is a whole program in our country, please [let\u2019s talk about it]. You want to buy potash fertilizers from us? If you want, please do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He made it clear that Belarus was already loading crop nutrients for shipment to the United States and added that he expected US-based Citibank to release some $43\u201344 million to a company that \u201ccooperated with us,\u201d apparently referring to funds frozen because of sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReturn the money. Then we will negotiate more serious things with you,\u201d he said without elaborating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his previous visit to Minsk in March, Coale secured the release of 250 political prisoners. Fifteen were taken out of the country, while the rest were allowed to stay in Belarus. In return, Washington lifted some sanctions, including those on potash companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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