The Inside Story Podcast Why has Trump eased sanctions on Belarus now?
Dec 14, 2025
Franak Viacorka, a Belarusian opposition figure, sheds light on the implications of Trump easing sanctions and whether it grants legitimacy to Lukashenko. Mark Episkopos discusses the shift in U.S. policy towards pragmatic engagement and its potential to improve human rights dialogue. Andrey Kortunov explores how this move might provoke the Kremlin and its effects on negotiations regarding Ukraine. The guests also debate the humanitarian aspects of the decision, the sidelining of Europe, and what it means for future interactions with authoritarian regimes.
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Pragmatic, Not Full Legitimacy
- Trump's engagement with dictators is pragmatic and transactional rather than conferring full legitimacy.
- Franak Viachorka says this style yields limited legitimisation compared with European recognition.
Engagement Can Improve Human Rights
- Periods of Western engagement have correlated with domestic relaxations in Belarus.
- Mark Episkopos argues normalization can open sustained dialogue on human rights and lead to improvement.
A Signal To Moscow
- The Belarus deal may send a carrot to Moscow showing sanctions can be eased.
- Andrey Kortunov suggests Kremlin elites might feel jealousy or see precedent for future US concessions.