Lukashenko seeks way out of isolation, reopens contacts with EU

According to the agency, a senior Belarusian diplomat held a series of meetings with European representatives after Minsk, the capital of Belarus, sent invitations to them at the end of September.

European diplomats interpreted this as an attempt by Belarus to break out of political isolation amid improving relations with Washington under Donald Trump.

After the 2020 presidential election, which was accompanied by mass protests and repression, the European Union imposed sanctions against the Belarusian leadership, which were strengthened in 2022 for supporting Russia's war against Ukraine. However, according to Reuters, Minsk has intensified its contacts with European countries in recent weeks.

Belarusian ambassador coordinates contacts with Europe

Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Yury Ambrazevich, who was appointed ambassador to the Vatican in March, has become informally responsible for coordinating Minsk's diplomatic contacts in Western European capitals.

According to one diplomat, Ambrazevich conveyed that Belarus seeks to break its political isolation and could play a role in negotiations on a settlement between Russia and Ukraine. The Belarusian embassy in Paris, where the diplomat is also accredited to UNESCO, sent invitations for meetings on October 6, 8, and 9.

Several European countries confirmed receipt of the invitations, and some agreed to meet. One diplomat noted: "I think they feel there is a window that's now opened with Trump to get their sanctions dropped, so they are seizing it."

Warming ties with Washington

Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, had been under Western sanctions for many years. However, during Donald Trump's presidency, the United States began to engage more actively with Minsk, sending delegations and discussing humanitarian issues.

In September, Lukashenko spoke by phone with Trump, who called him a "highly respected" leader. Following the talks, Belarus released more than 50 political prisoners, and Washington partially lifted sanctions on the state airline Belavia, allowing it to purchase spare parts.

Europe remains cautious

According to diplomats, Minsk's diplomatic activity aims to show that Belarus is not fully subordinate to Moscow.

"They say they don't want escalation of the conflict, so what they want now is to have an open line of discussion with other states and to underline their differences from Russia," one of the Reuters sources said. However, some European countries view these moves skeptically, believing that Lukashenko remains dependent on the Kremlin.

After the release of prisoners, the Belarusian authorities again arrested several opposition figures. At the same time, Minsk and Moscow held joint military exercises, and Lukashenko proposed building a nuclear power plant in the east of the country to supply electricity to the territories of Ukraine occupied by Russia.

Opposition urges not to lift sanctions

Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya expressed concern about the easing of sanctions against Belavia and called on the EU not to rush to lift restrictions.

Sanctions cannot be lifted "until there are systemic and irreversible democratic changes in Belarus," Tsikhanouskaya said.

According to former Belarusian diplomat Pavel Slunkin, Lukashenko hopes for the removal of sanctions on potash fertilizer exports and the restoration of access to Baltic ports. However, he noted that Lithuania and Latvia are not ready to lift these sanctions.

The self-proclaimed President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, announced his desire to conclude a major deal with the United States, though he did not specify what the agreement might entail.

Earlier, with US assistance, Belarus released several opposition figures. In turn, the United States lifted sanctions on Belavia.