The US is looking for a special approach to Belarusian dictator Lukashenka in order to later test it on Putin and end the war.
Belarus's economic dependence on Russia is rapidly deepening and already covers key sectors - from foreign trade and finance to investment and the defense industry, significantly narrowing the space for Minsk's independent decisions.
The US is lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash, as announced by special envoy John Cole after a meeting with Alexander Lukashenka. This decision is part of the normalization of relations between the countries, which could lead to further lifting of restrictive measures.
Lithuania revoked residence permits for 145 Russian citizens due to frequent trips to Russia and Belarus, guided by the law "On restrictive measures in connection with military aggression. " Among those deprived of residence permits is former human rights activist Mikhail Benyash, who visited Minsk to meet with his son.
Belarusian self-proclaimed president Lukashenka visited Myanmar, strengthening the junta's legitimacy ahead of controversial elections. He became only the second world leader to visit the country since the establishment of military rule in 2021.
Alexander Lukashenka proposed to Vladimir Putin to hold talks on Ukraine in Minsk. The proposal was made during a meeting of the leaders at the CSTO summit in Bishkek.
Latvia and Estonia are ready to show solidarity with Vilnius over Belarusian contraband balloons, said Lithuanian Prime Minister Ruginiene. Poland has already joined Lithuania, refusing to open its borders with Belarus.
Belarusian peacekeepers are ready to participate in a potential mission in Ukraine, a representative of the Belarusian armed forces said. However, there are no official invitations or discussions within the UN regarding this, and Kyiv does not consider Minsk a neutral party in the war.
The European Union has condemned Belarus for provocative actions after balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes forced Lithuania to close airports. The EU warned of possible further sanctions but refrained from directly accusing the Lukashenka regime due to Hungary's objections.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó was in Minsk on Tuesday, where he used Russian in his speech during the Eurasian conference. The Budapest representative met with the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, after which he announced Russia's openness to a summit with the United States.
Belarusian diplomat Yury Ambrazevich is holding meetings with representatives of European countries, trying to resume dialogue with the West. This is happening against the backdrop of intensified contacts between the US and Belarus.
In September, Belarus quadrupled its rail shipments of gasoline to Russia, reaching 40,000 metric tons. This occurred amidst a fuel shortage in Russia, caused by Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure.
The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns citizens against traveling to Belarus due to documented cases of interrogations and detentions, as well as difficulties with consular assistance. Since May 20, 2024, there have been no diplomats or a consul at the Belarusian diplomatic mission in Estonia.
Belarus is betting on trade with Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied by Russia. This has become a new stage in the country's economic strategy, which is trying to support enterprises through cooperation with Venezuela, Syria, North Korea, and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Aliaksandr Lukashenka claims that Belarus has nothing to do with drones violating the airspace of Poland and Lithuania.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemned Lukashenka's meeting with a representative of the Russian occupation administration of Kherson Oblast, calling it a blatant disregard for Ukraine's sovereignty. The Ministry emphasized the illegality of such actions and threatened to strengthen sanctions against the Belarusian regime.
American military personnel observed joint military exercises of Russia and Belarus, which began amid escalating tensions with NATO. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin invited them to see "everything that interests them," which became another sign of warming relations between Washington and Belarus.
The US plans to return its embassy to Minsk to restore diplomatic presence and develop economic relations with Belarus. Special Representative John Cole noted that the timing of the embassy's return is being discussed.
Poland will close its border with Belarus, including railway crossings, due to aggressive Russian-Belarusian exercises "Zapad-2025". This decision was made for national security reasons, amid growing tensions and hybrid warfare.
