By Natali Moss
The New York Times writes an unspoken visit of Americans to Minsk a day after US President Donald Trump had a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both events, NYT notes, testify to Washington's departure from the policy of isolation of leaders who are in the disapproval of the West through repressive politics and war in Ukraine. It is noted that this can have important consequences for defrosting relations between the US and Belarus.
After the negotiations, Minsk released the American and two Belarusian political prisoners from the prison, which Smith took on his car. After that, in Vilnius, Smith noted that the next step may be to conclude a large agreement, under which Lukashenko will release many political prisoners. In exchange for this, the United States will weaken sanctions on Belarusian banks and potassium exports, a key ingredient of fertilizers, the main manufacturer of which is Belarus.
According to diplomats who were present at the meeting, the State Department representative said that the main goal of the United States is to ensure freedom for political prisoners. And Lukashenko allegedly expressed his willingness to weaken the repression. Another important goal, Smith said, is to give Lukashenko a little space for action outside the orbit of Russia's influence. We will remind, on February 5 Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Putin will try to drag Belarus in the war.
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