Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko met U.S. special envoy John Coale in Minsk as part of a cautious effort to repair ties with the West. The talks follow partial U.S. sanctions relief and the transfer of more than 50 released prisoners to Lithuania, part of over 430 freed since July 2024. Human-rights groups warn that arrests and repression continue, with roughly 1,200 political prisoners reportedly still held in Belarus.
Lukashenko Hosts U.S. Envoy in Minsk as Belarus Seeks a Thaw With the West
In this photo released by Belarusian presidential press service, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, right, and U.S. Presidential envoy John Coale shake hands during their meeting in Minsk, Belarus, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Belarusian Presidential Press Service via AP)
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Friday met with U.S. special envoy John Coale in Minsk, the latest step in a cautious effort by Minsk to ease its international isolation and mend ties with Western capitals.
State news agency Belta and the presidential press office said the discussions took place in the Belarusian capital and were expected to continue into Saturday. The meeting follows a recent string of contacts between Belarus and U.S. officials that have coincided with partial sanctions relief and the release of dozens of political detainees.
A Limited Rapprochement
The most recent high-level contacts preceded Washington’s decision to relax some sanctions on Belarus and the transfer of more than 50 released prisoners to Lithuania. Belarus has freed over 430 detainees since July 2024, a move widely interpreted as part of a bid to improve relations with the West.
“They say Trump loves flattery. But I’m not aiming for flattery. I want to say that I really like his actions lately,” Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying.
Longstanding Tensions and Crackdowns
A close ally of Russia, Belarus has faced Western isolation and punitive measures for years. Lukashenko has ruled the country of about 9.5 million for more than three decades, and Western governments have repeatedly sanctioned Minsk for human rights abuses and for allowing Moscow to use Belarusian territory during the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
His rule was seriously challenged after the disputed 2020 presidential election, when tens of thousands poured into the streets to protest what they and many international observers called a rigged vote. The state response was harsh: tens of thousands were detained, many protesters were beaten, and prominent opposition figures either fled abroad or were jailed.
Notable Releases and Continuing Concerns
In recent months, Minsk has quietly released selected political prisoners. Among those freed was Siarhei Tsikhanouski, a prominent dissident and husband of exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya; his release followed a visit by U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg. After one such release, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Lukashenko and floated the possibility of a personal meeting.
A later transfer saw more than 50 released detainees flown to Lithuania and was followed by Washington lifting some sanctions on national carrier Belavia, enabling the airline to repair and buy parts for aircraft, including Boeings. One notable exception during those transfers was veteran opposition activist Mikola Statkevich, who refused to leave Belarus, described the moves as a “forced deportation,” stepped off the bus in no-man’s land and was subsequently detained again and returned to prison.
Human-rights groups caution that the releases have not ended repression in Belarus: arrests on politically motivated charges continue, and critics say the crackdown on dissent remains relentless. Rights group Viasna estimates that roughly 1,200 people remain imprisoned on political grounds, including Viasna’s founder, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski.
What to Watch
- Whether talks in Minsk lead to further sanctions relief or a broader diplomatic opening.
- Whether the pace of prisoner releases continues and whether returned dissidents remain free.
- How Belarus’s relationship with Russia evolves amid any Western rapprochement.
Context: The meeting underscores a careful, transactional diplomacy in which Belarus seeks to reduce penalties and gain international legitimacy, while Western governments weigh progress on human rights and the country’s role in regional security.
