Lukashenko Says US Acknowledgment of 2020 Election Outcome Could Reset Ties

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said relations with the United States could improve if Washington acknowledges that efforts to overturn his 2020 re-election had failed. In an interview with U.S. outlet Newsmax, Lukashenko suggested that such an admission could serve as a starting point for renewed dialogue between the two countries.

Official results declaring Lukashenko re-elected to a sixth term in 2020 triggered mass protests in Belarus, with demonstrators alleging electoral fraud. Western nations refused to recognise the result, while Russia backed Lukashenko. The Belarusian leader responded to the unrest with widespread arrests, deepening tensions with the West.

The United States and its allies later imposed sanctions on Belarus over the election, human rights concerns and Minsk’s role in allowing Russia to use its territory to launch the invasion of Ukraine. Despite this, U.S. officials have engaged Belarus in recent years, including efforts to secure the release of detainees. Lukashenko said Belarus wanted constructive relations with Washington and even suggested the two sides could cooperate on international issues such as Venezuela.

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