Washington seeks to liberate Minsk from Kremlin control

US Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg met with Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on June 21. This information was reported by Belarusian state media, emphasizing that issues of Belarusian-American relations, as well as regional and global challenges, were discussed.

This visit marks the first for a high-ranking US official to Belarus in several years – the previous such meeting took place in 2020, with the participation of then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

During the meeting, Lukashenko noted that Kellogg’s arrival caused “a lot of noise in the world.” He expressed surprise at this and called for a calm conversation about relations between Belarus and the United States. Lukashenko also noted that he was glad to communicate with a representative of the Donald Trump administration and hoped for a frank discussion. “If we play tricks on each other, nothing will work out,” he emphasized.

Keith Kellogg, in turn, thanked for the reception and testified to the importance of caution in the face of modern challenges. He noted that “the situations we face can quickly deteriorate if we do not act wisely and fairly.”

The Special Representative views his visit as an opportunity to launch peace talks aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine. Well-informed sources reported that Kellogg views this meeting as a potential “window of opportunity” for dialogue, which is currently blocked.

At the time of publication, there were no official comments from the US State Department, the White House, or Kellogg. The Belarusian embassy in Washington also did not respond to requests for comment.

Belarus actively supports Russia in the war against Ukraine, but Washington has repeatedly sought ways to reduce the Kremlin’s influence over Minsk. It was reported that the White House is exploring various options for lowering Belarus’ dependence on Russia.

This is not the first contact; in February 2025, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Smith and two other US officials made a private trip to Belarus to arrange a political prisoner exchange, including one US citizen.

Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994, has faced persistent international criticism for his authoritarian rule and electoral fraud. Western countries have not recognized the results of the 2020 election, and Belarus remains under sanctions and diplomatic isolation.

The Belarusian Interior Ministry has also ordered universities not to admit students who have criticized Lukashenko’s regime on social media or participated in protests.