“We’ll discuss everything else soon during negotiations with the U.S. delegation. I have a feeling they had a hand in this,” Lukashenko said while commenting on the closure of the Belarus-Lithuania border.
The announcement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump nominated John Cole as the U.S. special envoy to Belarus on Nov. 9.
Trump said Cole had “already successfully negotiated the release of 100 hostages” and was working to secure freedom for 50 more.
Cole previously met with Lukashenko on Sept. 11, 2025, after which 52 prisoners — including 14 political detainees — were released from Belarusian prisons.
In October, Lukashenko said he was ready to make a “big deal” with the United States, provided that Minsk’s interests were taken into account.