Trump announces meeting with Belarusian leader Lukashenko
US President Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump announced a meeting with the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, as part of a Peace Board meeting, Trump reports.
"Last week, my envoy to Belarus, John Coale, after negotiating with highly respected president Alexander Lukashenko, got 250 more political prisoners freed," Trump said.
According to him, in this way, the total number of prisoners whom Lukashenko has released from custody since May last year exceeded 500 people.
"I would like to give my warmest thank you to the president (Lukashenko - ed.) for doing this, and I look forward to being with him at the next Board of Peace meeting," the US president concluded.
What preceded
On March 19, US President's special envoy John Cole arrived on a visit to Minsk, where he met with Alexander Lukashenko.
The parties discussed the normalization of work of diplomatic missions, prospects of economic cooperation, and the sensitive issue of the release of political prisoners. At the same time, Lukashenko stated that Belarusian legislation does not contain the concept of a political prisoner.
In addition, Cole discussed during the visit to Minsk the possible visit of Lukashenko to the United States.
Also in December 2025, following negotiations in Belarus, John Cole said that President Lukashenko allegedly gives "good advice" to Donald Trump and his administration regarding the war in Ukraine.
