Lukashenko said the deployment of advanced weapons systems to Belarus would serve as a tool for maintaining domestic stability. "I’m confident that even those of our supporters who don’t yet understand this will come to realize it — without a war."
After a high-level U.S. visit to Belarus led to the release of 14 prisoners, observers have been left wondering what autocrat Alexander Lukashenko may have secured in return. U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg’s visit to Minsk on June 21
"President Trump now has the power and opportunity to free all political prisoners in Belarus with a single word. And I ask him to do so, to say that word," Siarhei Tsikhanouski said in his first press conference after his release.
Sergei Tikhanovsky was sentenced to 18 years in prison on politically motivated charges in 2021.
The bill — which carves out exceptions for EU and Latvian permanent residence holders, Belarusian refugees, and repatriates — establishes the new restrictions under the pretenses of protecting the country's national security.
U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg will meet Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in the coming days, Reuters reported on June 17, citing four sources familiar with the matter.
The measures target those goods that have not yet been subject to additional customs duties and will enter into force on July 1. The tariffs on fertilizers will increase gradually over the next three years.
"We firmly believe that allowing athletes from aggressor countries to compete under national symbols is not only a case of political blindness but also a blatant disregard for the victims of war and international law," the Ukrainian Judo Federation said.
Moscow is planning to deploy multiple Oreshnik missile systems to Belarus by the end of 2025, State Secretary of Belarus' Security Council Alexander Volfovich said on May 28.
The demand comes after Lithuania instituted legal proceedings against Belarus in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on May 19.
Belarus will reduce the parameters of the upcoming Zapad-2025 military drills and move maneuvers inland from the western border to reduce tensions in the region, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin claimed on May 28.
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko said the transfer of Russian nuclear weapons to Belarus was completed in October 2023.
"The regulation gradually increasing customs duties for products from Russia and Belarus will help to prevent Russia from using the EU market to finance its war machine," said Inese Vaidere, Latvian Member of the European Parliament.
Lithuania instituted legal proceedings against Belarus in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on May 19, alleging that Minsk is "facilitating, supporting, and enabling the smuggling of migrants" into Lithuania.
According to an official statement, Polish officers stopped a Mazda car for inspection and discovered the 36-year-old woman behind the wheel, along with five Afghan nationals in the vehicle.
About 800 million euros ($905 million) will be allocated for the acquisition and installation of anti-tank mines to deter potential aggression.
Russian and Belarusian citizens who reside in Lithuania will have their residence permits revoked if they travel to Russia or Belarus more than once within a three month period, Lithuanian media outlet LRT reported on May 3.
"Look at Belarus — this summer, Russia is preparing something there under the guise of military exercises. This is how its new attacks usually start," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
"As long as Belarus behaves this way towards (Poland), I do not see any possibility that anything will change in this area," Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Semoniak said.
"We hope that the truce will lead to de-escalation of tensions and will allow moving on to a diplomatic settlement," the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Poland reports two attacks on border guards, one allegedly involving a Belarusian serviceman. Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko invites up to 150,000 workers from Pakistan to Belarus amid deepening labor shortage. Director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service Sergey Naryshkin threatens Poland, Baltic states during a visit to Belarus. Meanwhile,
In a video released by Russian state-run RIA Novosti, the detainee, whose identity was not disclosed, said he was born in 2000 and is a citizen of Belarus.
The decision reflects growing dissatisfaction in Berlin with the way Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to manipulate the legacy of the war to justify Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The European Commission aims to halt imports from Russia and Belarus—totaling 3.6 million tonnes valued at $1.41 billion (1.28 billion euros) in 2023—to limit revenue flowing to Moscow's war effort.
Warsaw has also for several years accused Belarus of deliberately pushing migrants into Poland in order to pressure the EU over sanctions.
"This is part of the hybrid war that Russia is waging against democratic countries and the values we share. It is documented that Russia orchestrated over 100 attempts at sabotage around Europe in the past year," Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said on April 3.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that Russia and Belarus were left off the list because of the already imposed economic sanctions.
The soldiers and their tracked vehicle disappeared on March 25 during an exercise at a training ground near the Lithuanian city of Pabrade, located about 10 kilometers (six miles) from the border with Belarus. Pabrade hosts Camp Herkus, a U.S. military facility.
U.S. soldiers and a tracked vehicle disappeared on March 25 in a training area near the Lithuanian city of Pabrade, some 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border with Belarus.
Anzhalika Melnikava, the speaker of the Belarusian Coordination Council, disappeared on March 25, and there has been no contact with her since, the council reported on March 28.
Twenty-five individuals and seven entities were sanctioned by the EU on March 27 for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Belarus.
"The decisions in our local life won't be made by the citizens of the aggressor states, but we'll decide by ourselves," Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said after the March 26 vote.
(Updated: )
