VILNIUS – In a significant diplomatic move, the United States is set to remove sanctions on Belarusian potash, indicating a warming of relations between Washington and the reclusive regime.

John Coale, serving as the U.S. special envoy to Belarus, revealed this development following his discussions with Belarus’ authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, during his visit to Minsk over the weekend.

Belarus, a staunch ally of Russia, has long been under Western sanctions and isolation. Lukashenko, who has maintained an authoritarian grip over the country of 9.5 million for more than 30 years, has been sanctioned for his government’s human rights abuses and for permitting Russian military operations from Belarusian territory during the 2022 Ukraine conflict.

Coale, speaking to the press, characterized the two-day dialogue as “very productive,” according to reports from Belarus’ state news outlet, Belta, on Saturday.

The U.S. diplomat highlighted that re-establishing a normal diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and Belarus remains “our goal.”

“We’re lifting sanctions, releasing prisoners. We’re constantly talking to each other,” he said, according to Belta. He also said that the relationship between the countries was moving from “baby steps to more confident steps” as they increased dialogue.

The last time U.S. officials met with Lukashenko in September 2025, Washington announced easing some of the sanctions against Belarus while Mink released more than 50 political prisoners into Lithuania. Overall, Belarus released more than 430 political prisoners since July 2024, in what was widely seen as an effort at a rapprochement with the West.

The latest round discussions also touched on Venezuela, as well as Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Belta said.

Coale told reporters that Lukashenko had given “good advice” on how to address the conflict, saying that Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin were “longtime friends” with “the necessary level of relationship to discuss such issues.”

“Naturally, President Putin may accept some advice and not others,” Coale said.