{"id":182017,"date":"2026-04-02T12:46:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T09:46:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/182017\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T13:21:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T10:21:15","slug":"lithuanias-president-lists-conditions-for-engagement-with-minsk","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/182017\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuania\u2019s president lists conditions for engagement with Minsk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Gitanas Naus\u0117da \n <\/div>\n \n
\n (Delfi \/ Still by Pozirk)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

April 2, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Vilnius expects signs of goodwill from Minsk over the next few weeks, reflecting genuine efforts to normalize relations, Delfi <\/em>reports, citing Lithuanian President Gitanas Naus\u0117da as saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The politician set out conditions for Lithuania to start considering dialogue with the regime in Minsk. These include the safe return of all Lithuanian trucks stranded in Belarus since last fall, an end to irregular crossings by third-country migrants via Belarus and to incursions of cigarette-smuggling balloons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statement comes days after John Coale, the US special envoy for Belarus, called for political-level talks between Vilnius and Minsk in his interview with\u00a0LRT<\/em> in late March. \u201cPresident [Donald] Trump and I do not believe in preconditions,\u201d he said. \u201cI hope that Lithuania agrees to a bilateral dialogue at the level of deputy foreign ministers. We need to stop those things that hinder life on both sides.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asta Skaisgiryt\u0117, an aide to the Lithuanian president, pushed back against the US envoy\u2019s suggestion that Vilnius should engage with Minsk at a political level without preconditions. Naus\u0117da also rejected the idea of engagement with Minsk during a meeting with Coale on March 18, stressing that Belarus seeks to drive a wedge among NATO allies, in particular between the US and the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk has been insisting on political-level contacts, yet Lithuania rejects direct diplomatic talks, having significantly downgraded official contacts after what it described as Belarus\u2019 rigged 2020 presidential election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vilnius views the political negotiations with Minsk as an attempt to break the international isolation of Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s regime and potentially pave the way for easing sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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