In the lead-up to the highly anticipated Alaska meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump spoke by phone with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on August 15.
The conversation, focused on prisoner releases and ongoing diplomatic coordination, set the stage for a tense but potentially pivotal international summit.
Prisoner Releases Take Center Stage
During the call, Trump thanked Lukashenko for the recent release of 16 prisoners and noted that discussions are underway regarding an additional 1,300 detainees.
He described the exchange as “very good” and “wonderful,” highlighting a mutual commitment to continued dialogue.
Among those freed was Yuri Zenkovich, a Belarusian-American opposition activist who had been detained since 2021 and sentenced to 11 years in a high-security facility. U.S. officials clarified that his release was not part of any formal prisoner swap.
Roger Carstens, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, pointed out that Minsk appears eager to improve relations with Washington.
Part of a Broader Diplomatic Push
The phone call occurred just hours before Trump and Putin are scheduled to meet in Anchorage, Alaska, at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson.
The summit is being framed as a high-level attempt to explore peace initiatives in Ukraine.
Belarus–U.S. relations have historically been strained, but recent gestures, including the release of American detainee Anastasia Nyufer in January under Trump’s diplomatic efforts, indicate a cautious thaw.
Trump has expressed interest in meeting Lukashenko in person in the near future, signaling that Belarus could play a key role in wider negotiations.
Putin Honors History Before Alaska Trip
Before traveling to Alaska, President Putin stopped in Magadan, a remote Russian city in the Far East, to pay tribute to Soviet and American pilots who flew the Alaska–Siberia (ALSIB) air route during World War II.
Laying 20 red roses at the memorial, Putin acknowledged the historical cooperation between the two nations—a symbolic prelude to the upcoming summit.
Putin is scheduled to land in Anchorage at 11:00 a.m. local time (10:00 p.m. Moscow time), where Trump will personally greet him on the runway.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy confirmed that the Russian leader will receive the “highest-level welcome” upon arrival.
Looking Ahead
Both the Trump–Lukashenko call and the forthcoming Trump–Putin meeting underscore a concentrated diplomatic effort to address the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
Analysts suggest that these interactions could shape the next phase of negotiations, with Belarus potentially serving as a strategic intermediary in broader talks.
Magadan: Russia’s Far East Gateway
Magadan Oblast, where Putin stopped before his Alaska flight, is a sparsely populated region in Russia’s Far East.
With just over 136,000 residents, it is the least populated oblast in Russia and home to a harsh, cold climate.
Magadan city, the oblast’s capital, houses most of the population, and the region’s economy largely relies on mining, particularly gold, silver, and other non-ferrous metals.
The stop served as both a historical tribute and a symbolic nod to Russia’s long-standing ties with the U.S. in aviation history.