Trump nominates lawyer John Coale as US special envoy to Belarus

"I am pleased to announce that John Coale, Esq., known as one of our country's truly great lawyers, whose victories included the first major Tobacco case win, is being nominated as the United States Special Envoy to Belarus," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

According to Trump, Coale has "already successfully negotiated" the release of 100 hostages and is working to free another 50. He also thanked President Alexander Lukashenko "for his consideration on the release of these additional people."

In June, Coale reported that Belarus, at Trump's request, released 14 prisoners, including Belarusian opposition figure Syarhey Tsikhanouski.

On September 11, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said Belarus freed another 52 prisoners. Around the same time, the media reported that the US would soon lift sanctions on the Belarusian airline Belavia, which was officially done on November 4.

In August, Trump and Lukashenko held a phone call to discuss the release of political prisoners and other matters. The call took place ahead of the US-Russia leaders' summit in Anchorage.

At the end of September, Trump's Special Envoy, Keith Kellogg, explained that US negotiations with Belarus were primarily aimed at maintaining communication channels with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.