Is the U.S. Persuading Lukashenko to Turn Away from Russia? Secret Talks Held in Minsk

The United States has offered Alexander Lukashenko a deal aimed at reducing Russia's influence on Belarus. The release of an American citizen and two Belarusian political prisoners could become the first step in this process, reports NewsBox.

Washington is considering the possibility of striking a "big deal" with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, which could lead to a decrease in Russia’s influence over Minsk. This was reported by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Chris Smith during a diplomatic meeting in Vilnius.

The first move towards a possible agreement was the release of an American citizen and two Belarusian political prisoners from confinement. According to The New York Times, the release happened on February 12, and Smith personally participated in the special operation to extract them from Minsk.

During the trip, the American diplomat met with Lukashenko and the head of the Belarusian KGB, Ivan Tertel. The details of the potential agreement have not been disclosed yet, but analysts suggest that the U.S. might offer Minsk alternative economic and diplomatic development paths in exchange for reducing its dependence on Moscow.