USAID FOR FASCIST REGIME
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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has praised the United States as a leading source of humanitarian assistance for his country despite the sanctions regime, Russian outlet RBC reported on May 15.
Speaking at a meeting with Franklin Graham, president and chief executive of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Lukashenko said the United States had supplied two-thirds of the humanitarian aid received by Belarus in the past year.
Belarus has been under successive rounds of Western sanctions since the 2020 disputed presidential election and the violent crackdown on the protest movement that followed, with measures expanded after Minsk allowed Russian forces to use Belarusian territory to launch the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
"You are doing well, thank you for this help and support. In general, two-thirds of all humanitarian aid we receive in Belarus is provided by the United States of America. Surprisingly enough. They say 'sanctions, sanctions', but the Americans are doing well. Your share is in this US humanitarian aid," Lukashenko said, in remarks carried by the Pul Pervogo Telegram channel, which is close to the Belarusian presidential press service.
The Belarusian leader asked Graham to convey to US President Donald Trump that "in Belarus he has reliable friends and supporters".
The comments come amid a marked thaw in relations between Minsk and Washington that has gathered pace through 2026. On March 19, Lukashenko hosted an American delegation led by US special envoy for Belarus John Cole at the Palace of Independence in Minsk.
On the same day, Belarus announced the pardon of 250 individuals convicted on extremism-related charges, while Cole confirmed the lifting of US sanctions on Belinvestbank, the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus and the Belarusian Finance Ministry. Two Belarusian potash producers, the Belarusian Potash Company and Belaruskali, were also removed from US sanctions lists.
Trump subsequently thanked Lukashenko for the prisoner pardons.
On April 19, the Belarusian leader said he was ready for a "big deal" with the United States, provided any agreement reflected the interests of both sides. Lukashenko said dialogue with Washington was not directed against Russia or China, and called on the United States to reach an understanding with Moscow.
Belaruskali and the Belarusian Potash Company are among the country's largest hard currency earners, with Belarus historically one of the world's top three potash exporters alongside Canada and Russia.
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