VILNIUS, Lithuania – The United States is set to lift sanctions on Belarus’s Cali, marking another step toward improving relations between Washington and the isolated regime.
John Cole, the U.S. special envoy to Belarus, made this announcement after meeting with the authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk over the weekend.
Minsk, a close ally of Russia, has been under Western sanctions for years due to its human rights abuses and for permitting Moscow to use its territory during the 2022 Ukraine invasion. Lukashenko has ruled the country of approximately 9.5 million for over thirty years.
According to Belarus’s state news agency Belta, Cole described the talks as “very productive.” He emphasized that the normalization of relations between Washington and Minsk is a primary objective.
“We’re lifting sanctions and releasing prisoners. Communication is ongoing,” he stated, also mentioning that the dialogue is advancing from “baby steps to more confident steps.”
The last U.S. officials’ meeting with Lukashenko was in September 2025, during which Washington eased some sanctions, resulting in the release of over 50 political prisoners to Lithuania. Overall, Belarus has freed more than 430 political prisoners since July 2024, likely in an attempt to strengthen ties with the West.
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya remarked that the relief of sanctions is part of discussions between Minsk and Washington, indicating that another group of political prisoners would soon be released.
“The release of these prisoners suggests that Lukashenko recognizes the impact of Western sanctions,” Tsikhanouskaya observed. “However, let’s not fool ourselves. Lukashenko hasn’t altered his oppressive policies and continues to back Russia’s actions in Ukraine. We must tread carefully about sanctions relief; it could inadvertently bolster Russia’s military capabilities and support ongoing repression.”
She noted that sanctions imposed by the European Union on Belarus’s potash fertilizers are more detrimental to Minsk than those from the United States. While easing U.S. sanctions might encourage the release of political prisoners, she believes that European sanctions should lead to more fundamental changes in Belarus and an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
Belta also reported that recent discussions included topics like Venezuela and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Cole shared that Lukashenko had offered “good advice” regarding the conflict, highlighting the long-standing friendship between Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Of course, President Putin may take some advice and ignore other aspects,” Cole added.
