U.S. presidential envoy John Coale plans to visit Belarus soon

U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy John Coale last visited Minsk in March, when he held another round of talks with Aliaksandr Lukashenka and secured the release of another group of Belarusian political prisoners in exchange for the partial lifting of sanctions. Sources said his next visit had been planned for May, but was later postponed.

In a post on X, the U.S. presidential envoy was asked when he could be expected in Minsk. John Coale replied with a single word: “Soon.”

Earlier, Coale said that his work to secure the release of political prisoners was not yet finished and urged Belarusians not to lose hope.

Previously, Belarusian democratic leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told Reuters that negotiations between the United States and the regime in Minsk had been delayed, although she did not specify a timeline or conditions for their resumption.

An international relations expert interviewed by Euroradio suggested that the visit had been postponed because the desired progress in the negotiations had not been achieved.