Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko greets John Coale, a representative of U.S. President Donald Trump, during a meeting in Minsk, Belarus September 11, 2025. Press Service of the President of the Republic of Belarus/Handout via REUTERS
VILNIUS (Reuters) - Belarus freed 52 prisoners including an EU employee on Thursday after an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, as Washington and Minsk flirted with a rapprochement that many European leaders have viewed sceptically.
Trump had previously urged Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to release detainees whom the U.S. leader has described as "hostages".
