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Lukashenko Says Meeting With Trump Possible Once 'big Deal' Is Ready
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 19, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 19, 2026
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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says he’s open to meeting U.S. President Donald Trump once a comprehensive “big deal” reflecting both countries’ interests is finalized — beyond mere sanctions relief, encompassing broader diplomatic, security and economic issues.
Lukashenko Open to Meeting Trump After Comprehensive US-Belarus Deal
Prospects and Preconditions for a US-Belarus Summit
Lukashenko's Stance on a US-Belarus Deal
April 19 (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he would be ready to meet U.S. President Donald Trump once a "big deal" between the two countries has been prepared.
"We are ready for a deal, but it needs to be prepared in a way that reflects the interests of both the United States and Belarus," Lukashenko said in an interview with Russian TV network RT, excerpts of which were published on Sunday.
Geopolitical Context and Relations with Russia
Lukashenko is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine, although without sending Belarusian troops to fight there.
Potential Breakthrough in US-Belarus Relations
In March, Trump's envoy John Coale said that the Belarusian president may soon visit the United States, a trip that would signal a breakthrough for the veteran authoritarian leader after years of being treated as a pariah because of human rights abuses and his backing for Putin in the war.
Sanctions and the Scope of Negotiations
Lukashenko said in the RT interview that Minsk had adapted to Western sanctions and that any potential deal with Washington should go beyond sanction relief.
Key Issues for the "Big Deal"
"We have far more issues to resolve, and that's the subject of a big deal," he said without specifying these issues. "Once we finalise this at a lower level, we're ready to meet with Donald and sign the agreement."
Next Steps and Diplomatic Outlook
(Reporting by ReutersEditing by Tomasz Janowski)
Key Takeaways
- •Lukashenko confirmed willingness to meet Trump once a mutually beneficial "big deal" is ready, pending lower‑level preparations (aa.com.tr).
- •Recent prisoner releases and U.S. sanction relief mark preliminary steps toward thawing ties: 250 political prisoners freed and sanctions eased on banks and potash firms (apnews.com).
- •The "big deal" may cover embassy operations, nuclear material storage, customs, drug and smuggling issues, signaling a potentially broader U.S.‑Belarus rapprochement (aa.com.tr).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Lukashenko says meeting with Trump possible once 'big deal' is ready
1What did Lukashenko say about meeting Trump?
Lukashenko said he is ready to meet US President Donald Trump once a 'big deal' between Belarus and the US is prepared that reflects the interests of both countries.
2What is the status of Belarus-US relations?
Belarus and the US have had strained relations due to human rights issues and Belarus's support for Russia, but a possible deal could signify a major breakthrough.
3Has Belarus responded to Western sanctions?
Lukashenko stated that Belarus has adapted to Western sanctions and emphasized that any deal should go beyond just sanction relief.
4Is a Lukashenko visit to the US planned?
An envoy for Trump suggested Lukashenko may soon visit the US, which would indicate improved relations if a deal is reached.
5What is included in the potential 'big deal' between Belarus and the US?
While details were not specified, Lukashenko said issues go beyond sanction relief and require thorough preparation at lower levels.
