Trump signals readiness for in-person meeting with Belarus president after “constructive” call

US President Donald Trump has expressed his intention to hold an in-person meeting with his Belarus counterpart Aleksandr Lukashenko in the near future, following a phone call between the two leaders.

According to a statement shared on Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, the discussion took place during his flight to Anchorage, Alaska, where he is scheduled to attend a high-profile summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Caliber.Az reports.

During the call, Trump said that he and Lukashenko discussed the possible release of approximately 1,300 prisoners. While specific details of the negotiations were not disclosed, Trump described the conversation as "constructive" and signaled optimism about future diplomatic engagement with Minsk.

“I had a wonderful talk with the highly respected President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko. The purpose of the call was to thank him for the release of 16 prisoners. We are also discussing the release of 1,300 additional prisoners. Our conversation was a very good one. We discussed many topics, including President Putin’s visit to Alaska. I look forward to meeting President Lukashenko in the future. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” the post by US leader reads.

The call comes just ahead of the Trump–Putin summit in Anchorage, marking Putin’s first visit to US soil in over a decade. The meeting is expected to focus on a range of issues, including the war in Ukraine, strategic arms control, and broader US-Russia relations.

By Vafa Guliyeva