Trump and Lukashenko talks: prisoners released

The unexpected negotiations between the Donald Trump administration and Alexander Lukashenko have attracted significant attention in international politics. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

According to "The Wall Street Journal," Trump's special envoy John Koul is strengthening ties with the Belarusian leader and achieving important political results. John Koul, a close adviser to Trump and an experienced lawyer, was tasked in 2025 with developing dialogue with Belarus.

He presented Lukashenko with proposals to improve Belarus's position on the international stage. The negotiations were not limited to official meetings but also included informal conversations and even health consultations.

As a result of these negotiations, 250 prisoners were released from Belarusian prisons, including opposition leaders Sergey Tikhanovsky and Ales Belyatsky. In exchange, the US eased a number of sanctions against Belarus.

Specifically, restrictions on the "Belaruskaliy" enterprise were lifted, and the "Boeing" company was permitted to supply spare parts to Belarus. The Trump administration aimed for two main objectives with this step: first, to show Russian President Vladimir Putin that cooperation with the US is beneficial, and second, to involve Lukashenko as a mediator to end the war in Ukraine.

However, this process is not without concerns. Although Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya welcomed the release of prisoners, she is worried that Lukashenko might abuse this political advantage in the future.

She does not rule out the possibility that Lukashenko could imprison people again in exchange for new privileges. Trump's principle of "It doesn't matter who you talk to, the result is important" will show what outcome it brings in the Belarus direction over time.

Do you think this agreement will help bring the Russia-Ukraine war to a quicker end?