NYT learned about secret negotiations between the USA and Lukashenko.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Smith met with Alexander Lukashenko and the head of the Belarusian KGB. This meeting may be significant for the relationship between the two countries.

According to The New York Times, this meeting is the first encounter of a high-ranking representative of the U.S. State Department with the Belarusian leader in the last five years. It took place after a phone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

During the negotiations, the American delegation was able to transport three prisoners, including a U.S. citizen and two Belarusian political prisoners. Christopher Smith called this transport a major victory while speaking outside the U.S. embassy in Vilnius.

During the meeting with diplomats, the possibility of entering into a large-scale agreement was discussed, under which Belarus would release many political prisoners in exchange for easing sanctions on Belarusian banks and the export of potash to the USA.

Franak Viachorka, chief of staff to the Belarusian opposition leader, expressed gratitude to Trump for progress in the negotiations but noted that sanctions should only be eased after the repression ends, all political prisoners are released, and new arrests are halted.

This visit to Belarus is the first personal visit of Christopher Smith, who was responsible for Belarus policy during the administration of Joe Biden. The main goal of the USA is to free as many political prisoners as possible, and the Belarusian leader, according to diplomats, stated his readiness to reduce repression.

Belarusian political analyst Artem Shraibman states that the main issue is the Kremlin's reaction to the possible rapprochement of Belarus with the West. Given Russia's economic dominance over Belarus, the country cannot quickly and easily separate from Moscow.

Shraibman also emphasizes that although President Trump may not show great interest in Belarus, 'the Trump factor creates momentum since everyone, including Lukashenko, is trying to attract the attention of the U.S. president and compete for his attention.'

It was previously reported that Minsk was allowed to regain nuclear status, while Kyiv was not allowed such a decision.