{"id":180279,"date":"2026-03-20T15:23:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T12:23:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/180279\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T15:24:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T12:24:30","slug":"lukasenka-says-belarus-sent-grand-bargain-proposals-to-us","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/180279\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka says Belarus sent “grand bargain” proposals to US\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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March 20, <\/strong>Pozirk.<\/strong> <\/em>Minsk sent its proposals for a \u201cgrand bargain\u201d to Washington, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka has told Belarusian state-run media one day after his talks with John Coale, US special envoy for Belarus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDuring the talks, the Americans, on behalf of [US President Donald] Trump, proposed concluding a \u2018grand bargain\u2019 that would address several issues on our agenda,\u201d the politician\u2019s press office quoted him as saying. \u201cAm I going to refuse? It\u2019s not that I\u2019m already happy with that. But it\u2019s important for Belarus, and for me as well. So I said: \u2018I\u2019m fine with that. Tell Donald that I agree to prepare this \u2018grand bargain.\u2019”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agenda includes \u201cthe work of embassies\u201d and the issue of \u201cnuclear materials,\u201d the Belarusian ruler added. \u201cYou know that we have quite a lot of these nuclear materials. They are under control, as we agreed long ago. The International Atomic Energy Agency knows where we store these nuclear materials. This is also of interest to them [US] in terms of non-proliferation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally, \u0141uka\u0161enka mentioned a possibility of a \u201cgrand bargain\u201d with Washington on October 14, 2025, at the meeting with the top security officials. Later, he declared readiness to conclude a \u201cgrand bargain\u201d with the US provided that \u201cour interests\u201d are respected. He did not specify his exact demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yesterday, Minsk freed 250 regime critics, marking the largest release since talks with Washington started. Unlike previous pardons, which usually resulted in prisoners being forced to leave Belarus, 235 stayed in the country, while 15 were taken to Lithuania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those freed on March 19 include human rights defenders Marfa Rabkova, Nasta \u0141ojka and Valancin Stefanovi\u010d; journalist Kaciaryna Bachva\u0142ava (Andrejeva), blogger Eduard Pal\u010dys, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following yesterday\u2019s talks, \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s press office reported that the US lifted sanctions on two Belarusian banks, Bie\u0142invest and the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus, and the Ministry of Finance of Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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