Hours before his much-watched summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, US President Donald Trump had a call with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, thanking him for the release of 16 prisoners and broaching the possible release of more.
Trump Highlights Diplomatic Progress
Trump went on Truth Social to characterize the dialogue as “wonderful,” reporting that the call was about how to thank the released prisoners and discuss the release of another 1,300. “Our discussion was a very good one,” he said, mentioning that they also mentioned other issues, such as bilateral relations and Putin’s prospective visit to Alaska.
Belarus state media agency BELTA reported that Lukashenko invited Trump and his family to come to Belarus, and the previous US president accepted. Trump said he hoped to meet Lukashenko in person in the future.
Lukashenko’s Controversial Role in Ukraine and Domestic Politics
Lukashenko, Putin’s long-term friend and ally, permitted Russian troops to utilize Belarusian territory in order to initiate the initial phases of their 2022 assault on Ukraine. Lukashenko’s regime, in power since 1994, has been criticized for quelling free media outlets and crushing political opposition. Human rights groups state that Belarus now holds 1,186 political prisoners, several of whom were seized following mass protests in 2020 after a hotly contested election that was globally condemned as being rigged.
The recent release of 16 inmates, including opposition leaders, followed a White House appeal, marking a rare yielding by Lukashenko. Significantly, influential opposition leader Sergei Tikhanovsky was among the released in late June, which pointed to Trump’s direct intervention in securing these releases.
Strategic Timing Ahead of Alaska Summit
The call with Lukashenko occurred hours before Trump’s summit with Putin, highlighting the intricate diplomatic chessboard on the Ukraine conflict. Trump’s reach-out to Belarus demonstrates a preoccupation with de-escalating tensions and achieving humanitarian gains while conducting high-stakes diplomacy with Russia.
Analysts point out that these prisoner releases, while symbolically important, also have wider geopolitical significance, potentially bolstering Trump’s hand before talks with Putin over Ukraine, trade, and regional security.
While the world is watching the Alaska summit, Trump’s meeting with Lukashenko illustrates a combination of diplomacy, tactical maneuvering, and humanitarian messaging, leaving questions about the larger implications for US-Russia-Belarus relations and the conflict in Ukraine.
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