According to information disclosed by Reuters, the U
S. Special Representative for Ukraine, Kit Kellogg, is preparing for an important trip to Belarus, which, according to unofficial reports, is expected to take place in the coming days. The main purpose of the visit is to meet with the self-proclaimed President Alexander Lukashenko. Although there is no official confirmation of this information at present, agency sources assert that such plans exist and are in the final stages of coordination. According to two anonymous sources, the exact agenda of this still-unknown meeting has not yet been determined; however, Kit Kellogg has hinted in private conversations that this visit could be an important step toward initiating broad dialogue and negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine. The information offices of the U.S. Department of State and the Belarusian diplomatic mission in Washington did not comment in response to inquiries, further highlighting the diplomatic sensitivity of the situation. It is worth noting that planning such high-level visits requires lengthy and complex negotiations at the highest levels, and it is possible that the trip may be canceled or postponed to a more convenient time for both sides. In any case, if Kit Kellogg proceeds with this meeting with Lukashenko, it will become a historic precedent, as over the past few years this visit will likely be regarded in analytical studies as one of the highest-level contacts between the U.S. and authoritarian regimes in the post-Soviet space. Incidentally, in 2020, during the administration of then-President Donald Trump, a visit to Belarus was made by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. This was one of the highest-level visits of the United States to the country in two decades, with the primary goal of improving bilateral relations between Minsk and Washington, which at that time were in deep crisis. The visit was part of the Trump administration’s efforts to foster regional de-escalation amid heightened tensions. On the other hand, it should be noted that Belarus’s role in the context of the Ukraine-Russia conflict is particularly sensitive and delicate. On June 12, a few days ago, Kit Kellogg emphasized in private conversations with U.S. administration officials the importance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict. This indicates Washington’s intention to intensify diplomatic steps aimed at achieving peace and stability in the region amidst sharp geopolitical transformations. Thus, the upcoming trip of Kit Kellogg to Belarus is viewed by analysts as a potentially key element in seeking diplomatic avenues to resolve the ongoing crisis, which has lasted several years. At the same time, many questions remain about how willing Lukashenko is to engage in constructive dialogue and what objectives the U.S. pursues in this context. Expectations and speculation around future negotiations are growing, as this visit has the potential to reshape Belarus’s role in global politics and alter the framework of future diplomatic relations in the region.