Trump’s Belarus Deal: Free Prisoners, Lift Sanctions, Confuse Policy
Photo by Jasper Garratt on Unsplash
KEY POINTS
- •Trump pressured Belarusian President Lukashenko to pardon 31 Ukrainian citizens this past Saturday, according to state TV.
- •In exchange, Washington partly lifted sanctions on Belarus's state airline, Belavia, enabling fleet servicing including Boeing jets.
- •Lukashenko, ruler since 1994 known for crushing political opposition, scored a diplomatic win alongside Trump’s complicated peace demands.
- •The deal comes as Trump pushes Ukraine to accept a peace plan requiring territorial concessions to Russia.
In a plot twist worthy of reality TV, Donald Trump begged Belarus autocrat Alexander Lukashenko—who’s been crushing dissent since 1994—to pardon 31 Ukrainian prisoners, sealing it with a partial sanction lift on Belavia’s Boeing fleet. Forget peace talks; this is geopolitical karaoke where Ukraine might have to surrender land bigger than Rhode Island, all while Belarus gets to keep its state airline flying. Somehow the deal crisscrosses Washington’s tough-guy act and Lukashenko’s dictator fan club like a bizarre buddy comedy. Meanwhile, Trump’s peace plan is basically 'give Russia what they want and hope it sticks.'
Share the Story
(1 of 3)Source: Theguardian | Published: 11/22/2025 | Author: Amy Sedghi
More Articles in World News
OpenAI CEO’s $27M Mansion Molotoved Amid AI Lab Soap Opera
Businessinsider
Sydney Sweeney's $1M Flop, Trump-Approved Jeans & Bathwater Soap Fiasco
Mockingbirdnews.org
Digital Nomad Trapped in Lisbon FOMO, Ends Up BFF Ghosted
Businessinsider.com
Trump Extends Ceasefire Because Iran's Drama Series Needs Another Season
Axios
CIA Agents Accidentally Crash While Saving World, Constitution Possibly Breached
Theguardian
JD Vance to Pakistan Only If Iran Decides to RSVP First
Theguardian
Trump Extends Ceasefire Deadline By 24 Hours Because Time’s Just A Suggestion
Axios
Trump’s Iran Peace Deal Delayed Because Vance Still Can’t Find His Boarding Pass
Axios
Woman Quits Job, Bikes, Flies, and Hikes Through South America, Still Misses Penguins
Businessinsider