Trump Pursues a Diplomatic Thaw with Belarus Amid Political Prisoner Releases
Diplomatic efforts aimed at Belarus signal a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy under Trump as 14 political prisoners are freed.
In a notable shift in diplomatic strategy, President Trump dispatched a special envoy to Belarus, engaging in discussions with its President, Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, a crucial ally of Russia. This meeting, which took place in Minsk, marks the first high-level dialogue between the U.S. and Belarus in over five years. Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general serving as Trump’s envoy for Russia and Ukraine, conducted the talks which lasted over six hours. This visit diverges from the Biden administration's tactic of isolating Belarus with increased economic sanctions. While there's no indication of an immediate relaxation of these measures, the visit reportedly resulted in the release of 14 political prisoners, a move hailed by U.S. officials as indicative of the country's renewed strength in diplomatic negotiations. Among those freed was Sergei Tikhanovsky, a prominent opposition figure and the husband of exiled leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, whose return to Lithuania has been celebrated as a significant achievement. The discussions covered a range of topics, from sanctions and regional conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East to Belarus’ connections with Russia and China.
Diplomatic efforts aimed at Belarus signal a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy under Trump as 14 political prisoners are freed.
In a notable shift in diplomatic strategy, President Trump dispatched a special envoy to Belarus, engaging in discussions with its President, Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, a crucial ally of Russia. This meeting, which took place in Minsk, marks the first high-level dialogue between the U.S. and Belarus in over five years. Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general serving as Trump’s envoy for Russia and Ukraine, conducted the talks which lasted over six hours. This visit diverges from the Biden administration's tactic of isolating Belarus with increased economic sanctions. While there's no indication of an immediate relaxation of these measures, the visit reportedly resulted in the release of 14 political prisoners, a move hailed by U.S. officials as indicative of the country's renewed strength in diplomatic negotiations. Among those freed was Sergei Tikhanovsky, a prominent opposition figure and the husband of exiled leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, whose return to Lithuania has been celebrated as a significant achievement. The discussions covered a range of topics, from sanctions and regional conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East to Belarus’ connections with Russia and China.
