Kremlin controls Lukashenko's Western contacts

Belarus is again maneuvering between the West and Russia, but its autonomy from Moscow has dropped sharply since 2020. According to Kamil Klysinski of the Polish Centre for Eastern Studies, Minsk has earned concessions by releasing political prisoners and bargaining with the US. Lukashenko is trying to present himself as a mediator and entry point for negotiations with Russia, but his contacts with the West are conducted under Kremlin control. The Kremlin hopes to benefit from the lifting of sanctions on Belarus through these controlled interactions.