US envoy arrives in Belarus as US seeks prisoner releases, path to unfreeze assets

U.S. Special Envoy John Coale arrived in Minsk on September 15 for a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. The summit aims to discuss releasing political prisoners in exchange for reduced U.S. sanctions, as well as negotiating the reopening of embassies and the potential American acquisition of potash fertilizer.

Coale emphasized that the U.S. has been urging banks to unfreeze Belarusian assets and is working on a mechanism to facilitate their release. This is Coale's first visit to Belarus in six months, as the U.S. previously secured the release of hundreds of political prisoners by easing sanctions and normalizing relations. In March 2026, Coale said that a wider agreement with Minsk could involve sanctions relief and the restoration of diplomatic ties.

Lukashenko, seen as Russia's most devoted ally, particularly since the commencement of Russia's full-scale invasion, expressed openness to a "big deal" with the U.S. He stated, "We would like to realize the goal of normalizing the relationship… the things that normal countries do between themselves." However, previous attempts by Trump envoy Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to negotiate significant progress during their visit to Moscow and Kyiv, failed to yield any substantial outcomes.