Why is Donald Trump suddenly so interested in Belarus? | DW News

Relations between the US and Belarus appear to be thawing, following a meeting between President Trump's envoy, John Coates, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. After the meeting, Lukashenko pardoned 52 prisoners on humanitarian grounds, who were sent to neighbouring Lithuania. It is far fewer than the 13-hundred that Trump had requested be released a month ago. The US then announced it would reopen an embassy in the capital Minsk, and lift sanctions on the state-run airline, Belavia. President Lukashenko praised the US President's peacemaking efforts, saying 'Our task is to stand with Trump.' Chapters: 0:00 Minsk frees prisoners ahead of US embassy opening 0:43 John E. Herbst, Atlantic Council 5:45 Katia Glod, Belarus analyst 10:59 Natalia Smolentceva, DW Correspondent 15:09 Juri Rescheto, DW Riga Bureau Chief 17:38 Lithuania is boosting border security in anticipation of Russian and Belarusian military drills For more news go to: http://www.dw.com/en/ Follow DW on social media: ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwnews ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dwnews ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deutschewellenews/ ►Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwnews Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: https://www.youtube.com/dwdeutsch Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/deutschewelleenglish?sub_confirmation=1