Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told Russian television that he would meet with U.S. President Donald Trump once a "big deal" binding Belarus and the United States 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 RT, excerpts of which were published on Sunday.
The Belarusian leader, who is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has publicly supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine while stopping short of sending Belarusian troops to fight there. Those positions have contributed to Minsk's pariah status in the West, linked in the comments to years of human rights abuses and its backing for Putin in the conflict.
In March, Trump envoy John Coale said that Lukashenko may soon travel to the United States. Such a visit, according to that statement, would represent a breakthrough for the long-serving authoritarian leader after years of international isolation.
Lukashenko told RT that Minsk has adapted to the effects of Western sanctions. He emphasized that any arrangement with Washington should not be limited to lifting penalties.
"We have far more issues to resolve, and that’s the subject of a big deal," he said, without identifying the specific issues he had in mind. He added that once the agreement is finalized at a lower level, "we’re ready to meet with Donald and sign the agreement."
The president framed the process as one that requires preparatory work and mutual accommodation before any summit-level encounter. He underscored the need for the agreement to reflect the interests of both nations, reiterating that sanction relief alone would be insufficient.
The remarks outline a potential diplomatic pathway in which detailed negotiations precede a head-of-state meeting. They also underline ongoing ambiguity about the scope and content of talks between Minsk and Washington, as well as the political significance a U.S. visit by Lukashenko would carry given his recent international standing.
Summary: Lukashenko said he is prepared to meet President Trump once a comprehensive agreement that addresses a broader set of issues beyond sanctions relief is prepared and ratified at lower levels.