US named first ambassador to Minsk since 2008In April, the White House announced its nominee for US Ambassador to Belarus: Julie Fisher, a career foreign service officer. "Trump wants to restore diplomatic relations with Belarus. And we need her there now to help negotiate," Haring told CNN. Minsk has enjoyed close relations with Moscow, and is technically part of a loose binational confederation with Russia. But with Lukashenko's political future in doubt, experts told CNN they believe the Kremlin will ratchet up the pressure.

Source: CNN August 12, 2020 16:07 UTC