John Cole: We Are Negotiating To Release All Belarusian Political Prisoners
- 11.09.2025, 19:21
Trump's spokesman revealed details of the deal with Lukashenko.
U.S. presidential spokesman John Cole, who met with Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on September 11, held a briefing for journalists outside the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius. He revealed previously unknown details of the talks, reports "Zerkalo".
The US presidential spokesman emphasized that the decision to release exactly 52 people and the formation of the list was the initiative of the Belarusian side.
- They did it. We are hoping and negotiating to release all of them. The number fluctuates, but 1,300 people are still there and have to come out. Negotiations are ongoing. We have been talking about this for months and we are getting closer to getting something done. I think the release of 52 people today was a very good gesture," Cole said.
He also made clear the main goal the U.S. administration has in its dialogue with official Minsk.
- The goal is to normalize relations between the United States and Belarus. We are not going to interfere in his (Lukashenko. - Note) relations with Putin. It's not our game, it's his business. But we're going to build a working relationship with Belarus where we can develop trade and other things that will be good for both nations," said Trump's spokesman.
Cole emphasized that the release is not a direct exchange of "sanctions in exchange for people. It is a more flexible system of mutual "gestures of goodwill," he said.
- The way we do it is not "if you release 17 people, we'll do this." It's a more flexible process. It's something like, "Okay, you made this gesture of goodwill, now we're going to make a gesture of goodwill." Because they don't know what our gesture will be, and we don't know what theirs will be. We all, of course, have an idea of what we want and what they want, and that will be worked out over time," Cole explained.
The U.S. presidential spokesman confirmed that Washington has already retaliated - the U.S. lifted sanctions on Belavia.
- As we move forward, we're going to move toward a big goal that will normalize relations and hopefully get all the prisoners out. I don't play with numbers, and it's been successful, so I'm going to continue to do it that way," Cole said.
He said the current release was preceded by direct contact between Donald Trump and Lukashenko.
- I arranged a phone call that President Trump made from Air Force One when he was flying to Alaska. And they had a very good conversation. The numbers [of political prisoners] were voiced, and they agreed to continue negotiations," John Cole said.
When asked by a journalist whether the main goal was to stop repression in Belarus, rather than just normalize relations, John Cole said that one must precede the other. According to his logic, without building a working relationship, it is impossible to achieve the cessation of repression and release of people.
- One thing at a time. That's the way I do business. Of course, I would like everyone in Belarus to be happy, to have all rights and everything else. But I do it step by step. You have to get the relationship up and running first before it [ending repression] can happen," Cole believes.
He also outlined the next steps in the negotiations.
- To have a normal relationship, you usually need a diplomatic mission working in the country as well. So that will be part of the negotiations in the near future. As far as the next releases, I don't know. I think we are talking about weeks, maybe months," he concluded.