The US has lifted sanctions on Belavia airline and may return the embassy to Belarus
Фото: president.gov.by
On September 11, US President’s Special Representative John Cole arrived in Minsk on an official visit. In the Belarusian capital, he held talks with the country’s self-proclaimed leader, Alexander Lukashenko. During the meeting, the parties discussed the possible restoration of diplomatic relations, easing of sanctions pressure, and the fate of political prisoners.
This is what “Pul Pervogo” and the state propaganda agency TASS write about.
According to Cole, Washington is lifting sanctions against the Belarusian state airline Belavia. He emphasized that this is only the first step in the process of normalizing bilateral relations.
“We really want to restore normal relations between the United States and Belarus and are ready to do everything necessary for this. The lifting of sanctions against Belavia is an official decision. This is just the beginning,” the American representative said.
John Cole also handed Lukashenko a personal letter from the US President, and as a symbolic gift, cufflinks with the image of the White House.
During the talks, Lukashenko raised the issue of a so-called “global agreement” on political prisoners. According to him, Belarus is ready to discuss the release of prisoners who are considered victims of political persecution in the West.
“I don’t mind talking about this topic. We don’t have articles that condemn people for politics, but if Mr. Trump is ready to accept these people, please do. We are open to options for a grand deal, as he himself calls it,” Lukashenko said.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Vilnius confirmed that 52 people held in Belarusian prisons have already been released and are heading to Lithuania. Among them are opposition figure Mykola Statkevich, philosopher Volodymyr Matskevich, and Lithuanian citizen Olena Romanauskiene.
Separately, the parties touched upon the issue of the possible opening of a US embassy in Belarus. According to Cole, such a decision could be made “in the near future.”
As a reminder, Belarus is rapidly becoming a strategic springboard for Russian military plans . According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the country could host the latest Russian medium-range ballistic missile, the Oreshnik, by the end of 2025.
As reported, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said that during joint military exercises with Russia, it is planned to work out scenarios for the use of nuclear weapons, as well as the latest Oreshnik system . According to him, this is an important element of strategic deterrence in the face of growing tension on the country’s western and northern borders.
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