Trump representative unveils vodka drinking at negotiations in Minsk
(MENAFN) A senior US official revealed that a lunch involving vodka shots with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko played a key role in securing the release of 14 opposition figures during rare talks between Washington and Minsk. John Coale, deputy to Trump’s special envoy Keith Kellogg, shared this insight in an interview with Politico.
Shortly after the Minsk meeting, Belarus freed several detained activists, including prominent opposition leader Sergey Tikhanovsky, who then fled to Lithuania. Belarusian officials said Lukashenko pardoned the prisoners at Trump’s request, citing humanitarian reasons and the desire to reunite families. The talks also covered US-Belarus relations and global issues.
Politico reported that Coale’s relationship-building efforts, including a lengthy lunch with vodka toasts, were crucial to the release. Coale admitted he took two shots but declined a third. Footage from the talks showed Lukashenko warmly greeting the US delegation.
The Trump administration’s special envoys operate outside usual State Department channels, allowing informal diplomacy and unconventional engagement. Lukashenko described the meeting as respectful but emphasized it was not a concession to the West. These discussions occurred amid US attempts to improve ties with Moscow and pursue peace in the Ukraine conflict.
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