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US special envoy for Ukraine meets Belarus leader, Russia’s key ally
US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on 21 June, marking the most senior American diplomatic engagement with Belarus in recent years.
Belarus provided substantial support for Russia’s war against Ukraine without directly participating in combat. The country allowed Russian forces to launch part of their 2022 full-scale invasion from Belarusian territory, offering the most direct path to Kyiv. Belarus also hosted Russian missile systems targeting Ukraine and served as a logistics hub, with its intelligence services reportedly conducting reconnaissance operations and sharing targeting data with Moscow. Additionally, the two countries have strengthened their military partnership through joint exercises and expanded cooperation.
The meeting took place at the Palace of Independence, with propaganda media showing the two officials shaking hands and embracing. Lukashenko told Kellogg his visit had generated significant international attention, according to the presidential administration’s account.
During their encounter, Lukashenko emphasized the need for direct communication.
“I very much hope that our conversation will be very sincere and open. Otherwise, what’s the point of meeting,” he stated, adding that attempts at deception would prevent meaningful results.
The Belarusian leader assured Kellogg of his safety during the visit and indicated no escalation would occur while he remained in the country.
Kellogg reportedly expressed gratitude for the hospitality and highlighted the precarious global situation, stating that current crises could escalate rapidly without wise and fair approaches.
US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg meets Belarus authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko — first highest-ranking American official to engage with Belarus in years.
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) June 21, 2025
Without directly engaging in frontline combat, Belarus has still been a key supporter of Russia… pic.twitter.com/juBGwZ4iHM
The delegations met at Minsk’s Palace of Independence and discussed global developments, regional matters, and bilateral relations between Belarus and the United States.
Reuters previously reported, citing sources, that Kellogg privately characterized the Belarus visit as a potential step toward restarting peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia as they have stalled recently despite the attempts of Trump administration to broker ceasefire.
One US official also told Reuters that the Trump administration has internally explored ways to reduce Moscow’s influence over Minsk, though Western diplomats remain skeptical about such efforts given Belarus’s strong economic and political ties to Russia.
The last senior US official to visit Belarus was Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2020, with only lower-level diplomats traveling there since, including a February 2025 visit focused on prisoner releases.
