Rostislav Ishchenko: Washington’s Attempt to Lure Minsk Will Likely Fail
Political analyst Rostislav Ishchenko comments on US plans to ease sanctions on Belarus, doubts Minsk will be swayed by empty promises, and notes EU and Poland remain hostile.
Political analyst Rostislav Ishchenko commented on Washington’s recent signals about a possible easing of sanctions on Minsk.
He recalled that the United States and the European Union have repeatedly tried to entice Belarus with promises of normalized relations — and occasionally achieved some results. Ishchenko suggested that Washington is now simply making another attempt, but he doubted that it would succeed.
He pointed out that President Alexander Lukashenko once believed it was possible to build relations with the West independently of Russia, only to face an attempted coup. According to Ishchenko, Belarus avoided regime change thanks to Moscow’s firm stance and its declaration that it was ready to assist Minsk, including with military force — a factor that mattered, since Poland could have backed the coup with its own troops.
Ishchenko concluded that Lukashenko is unlikely to be swayed by empty promises today, while the United States has little of substance to offer. He added that both the EU and Poland remain extremely hostile toward Belarus, making a genuine thaw improbable.