In brief
In a significant move, former President Donald Trump has dispatched a special envoy, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, to engage in discussions with Belarusian President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko. This visit, the first by a senior White House official in over five years, marks a departure from the previous administration's strategy of isolating Belarus through economic sanctions. The meeting primarily focused on various international issues, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, while resulting in the release of 14 political prisoners, including prominent dissident Sergei Tikhanovsky. With this outreach, the Trump administration seeks to reshape diplomatic ties with Belarus, which plays a crucial role in the geopolitical landscape of Eastern Europe.
