Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has declared that he is open to what he called a “mutually beneficial agreement” with the United States — one that, in his words, should serve “exclusively Belarusian interests.”
“We’re ready to make a big deal with them. On one side of the scale — their questions, requests, and demands. On the other — ours. We’ll decide. We’re ready for it,” Lukashenko said during a recent public appearance.
Behind the rhetoric, the message appears clear: the Belarusian regime is signaling readiness for a transactional approach with Washington — possibly involving the release of political prisoners in exchange for the lifting or softening of Western sanctions. According to human rights groups, there are currently at least 1,220 political prisoners in Belarus, including journalists, opposition figures, and activists detained after the 2020 protests.
Lukashenko’s sudden interest in a “big deal” with the U.S. comes amid growing economic pressure, international isolation, and the country’s deepening dependence on Russia. His remarks could be seen as an attempt to test the waters for limited engagement with the West — or to extract concessions by presenting himself as a potential interlocutor.
Still, the irony is hard to miss: the man who crushed dissent and dismantled independent media now speaks of “Belarusian interests” as if they were synonymous with his own.
