US and Belarus may agree on sanction easing

The U.S. and Belarus are going to close a deal that would result in the easing of Washington’s sanctions against Minsk, The New York Times writes, citing anonymous sources in the White House.

As noted, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Smith said during negotiations with European diplomats in Vilnius on Saturday that preparations for a major deal with Minsk have begun.

The proposed deal suggests an easing of sanctions on Belarusian banks, in exchange for which Belarus is expected to release a number of prisoners.

There has been no official confirmation from Belarus regarding this information.