Belarus Leader Eyes Trump Meeting After Big Deal

Alexander Lukashenko says he will meet Donald Trump once a “big deal” is ready. He wants the agreement to benefit both Belarus and the United States. The Belarusian president, a longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has backed Russia’s war in Ukraine but kept Belarusian troops out of the fighting. Minsk has learned to cope with Western sanctions and wants more than just relief from them in any new deal.Lukashenko hinted that the deal would cover many unresolved issues, though he did not name them. In March, Trump’s envoy John Coale suggested that a visit from Lukashenko could signal a shift after years of international isolation over human‑rights concerns. The leader said that once the details are finalized at a lower level, he would be ready to meet Trump and sign an agreement.