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Alexander Lukashenko

The latest news and top stories on Alexander Lukashenko. Known for his decades-long authoritarian rule, he has been the de facto leader of Belarus since 1994. He oversees national security foreign policy and economic stability, serving as Commander-in-Chief. His tenure is marked by controversial constitutional changes, suppression of dissent and disputed election victories, drawing international condemnation and sanctions. Lukashenko maintains strong ties with Russia, notably allowing Belarusian territory for the invasion of Ukraine. His background includes agricultural management and early anti-corruption efforts, though he is now widely criticised for human rights abuses and corruption.

Fireworks conclude the Salute to America Semiquincentennial celebration in Washington on Sunday. Photo: EPA

US-China relations

China’s Xi Jinping sets new precedent with July 4 message for Trump and US

Beijing does not usually publicise presidential messages to Washington on Independence Day.

6 Jul 2026 - 6:40PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Belarus’ Lukashenko courts Moscow and Beijing as Ukraine tensions simmer

30 Jun 2026 - 2:04AM

Ukraine war

Zelensky gives Belarus 1 week to remove equipment used in Russian attacks

20 Jun 2026 - 2:41AM

Ukraine war

Belarusian leader tells Russia, Ukraine to make ‘compromises’ and end war

Lukashenko said it was clear that victory on the battlefield was unrealistic for both sides in the conflict, despite Russian advances.

16 Jun 2026 - 2:35PMvideocam

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko attend a ceremony in Moscow last month. Photo: Sputnik, Kremlin pool photo via AP

Ukraine war

Exiled Belarus opposition leader visits Ukraine as Kyiv warns of escalation

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya meets foreign minister during working trip as Kyiv reels from heavy Russian strikes.

26 May 2026 - 2:16PM

Ukraine war

Belarus begins nuclear weapons drills with Russia

Minsk claims drills pose no security threats ⁠in the region, but Kyiv urges tightened sanctions in response.

19 May 2026 - 1:11PMvideocam

North Korea

North Korea tests powerful missile engine. Will an ICBM launch follow?

The engine may be used in the Hwasong-20, which analysts say is capable of hitting targets around the globe.

31 Mar 2026 - 9:11AMvideocam

North Korea

North Korea and Belarus sign friendship treaty on Lukashenko’s first visit

Kim Jong-un and Alexander Lukashenko formalise ties in Pyongyang, agree to cooperate in an array of fields.

27 Mar 2026 - 10:08AM

North Korea

Kim welcomes Belarus’ Lukashenko to North Korea with a 21-gun salute

The two countries also signed a ‘friendship and cooperation’ treaty to deepen ties.

26 Mar 2026 - 3:49PM

Belarus

Belarus frees 250 political prisoners as US removes more sanctions

It was the latest step in the Belarusian leader’s effort to improve ties with Washington.

20 Mar 2026 - 11:05AM

Rights activist Valiantsin Stefanovic was among those freed on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Donald Trump

Allies tepid on joining Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ as countries study invites

Some leaders sign on to the Trump-chaired body, but initial reaction from two key allies, France and Canada, was lukewarm.

20 Jan 2026 - 12:29PM

US President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. Photo: AP

Russia

Russia’s nuclear-capable missiles enter service, heightening Ukraine tensions

After Trump-Zelensky talks, Putin projects power by deploying nuclear-ready Oreshnik missiles to Belarus as a warning to the West.

30 Dec 2025 - 8:14PM

Russia

Russia likely moving new nuclear missiles that are hard to intercept to Belarus

Experts say deployment of the Oreshnik a strategic shift to deter Nato and extend Moscow’s missile range in Europe.

27 Dec 2025 - 2:27PMvideocam

Belarus

Opinion | Can Belarus balance relations with Russia, China and the US?

Minsk aims to rebalance its foreign policy towards Beijing and Washington but geopolitical realities prevent a full break from Russia.

23 Dec 2025 - 9:34PM

In this photo released by the Belarusian Presidential Press Service, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (second right) greets Keith Kellogg, the US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia (left) before their meeting in Minsk, Belarus, on June 21. Photo: Handout via AP

Ukraine war

Russia deploys nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile to Belarus amid Ukraine talks

Russian state media says it would take the weapon only 17 minutes to reach Nato headquarters in Brussels.

19 Dec 2025 - 3:57AMvideocam

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko delivers a speech in Minsk on Thursday. Photo: Belarusian presidential press service via AFP

European Union

Belarus agrees to stop balloon flights into Lithuania amid hybrid attack fears

The incidents have caused over a dozen closures of Vilnius airport in recent months, prompting Lithuania to declare a state of emergency.

14 Dec 2025 - 2:24AM

Belarus

Belarus frees 123 prisoners in exchange for US sanctions relief

Peace prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova and 121 others have been released by one of Russia’s key allies.

13 Dec 2025 - 10:38PM

Lithuania

Lithuania declares national emergency over balloons from Belarus

The declaration is in response to frequent airspace violations by smuggling balloons that Lithuania calls a ‘hybrid attack’ from Belarus.

10 Dec 2025 - 1:03PM

Balloons are used to smuggle cigarettes into Lithuania, but officials in Vilnius see their numbers and trajectories as deliberate acts of disruption orchestrated by Belarus. Photo: State Border Guard Service via AP

Ukraine war

Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid intensify as winter approaches

Trump said on Sunday he may tell Putin that he could supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles if the war is not settled.

13 Oct 2025 - 6:12AMvideocam

SCO

Foreign leaders ride the rapid rails of China’s tech prowess after SCO summit

Blazing from Tianjin to Beijing on China’s signature high-speed railway, several state leaders are given a glimpse of rapid and lucrative modernisation efforts.

5 Sep 2025 - 11:35AMvideocam

SCO

6 takeaways from Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit opening

Xi Jinping urges members’ cooperation and setting up a development bank as Vladimir Putin blames Nato for Ukraine crisis.

1 Sep 2025 - 8:31PMvideocam

Xi announces the formal start of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s summit in Tianjin on Monday. Photo: CCTV

China’s military drills

Central Beijing blocked off for China’s WWII anniversary parade rehearsal

Thousands take part in preparations to mark 80 years since the defeat of Japanese forces.

10 Aug 2025 - 10:00PMvideocam

Police officers talk to motorists at a barricaded road near Changan Avenue in Beijing on Saturday, with preparations under way for a military parade in September. Photo: AP

Belarus

Putin ally Lukashenko says he won’t seek another term as Belarus president

The leader was interviewed by a US media outlet, in a sign of thawing relations with the United States under Trump.

9 Aug 2025 - 2:06AMvideocam

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Alexander Lukashenko

China’s Xi Jinping sets new precedent with July 4 message for Trump and US

Beijing does not usually publicise presidential messages to Washington on Independence Day.

Belarus’ Lukashenko courts Moscow and Beijing as Ukraine tensions simmer

Zelensky gives Belarus 1 week to remove equipment used in Russian attacks

Belarusian leader tells Russia, Ukraine to make ‘compromises’ and end war

Lukashenko said it was clear that victory on the battlefield was unrealistic for both sides in the conflict, despite Russian advances.

Exiled Belarus opposition leader visits Ukraine as Kyiv warns of escalation

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya meets foreign minister during working trip as Kyiv reels from heavy Russian strikes.

Belarus begins nuclear weapons drills with Russia

Minsk claims drills pose no security threats ⁠in the region, but Kyiv urges tightened sanctions in response.

North Korea tests powerful missile engine. Will an ICBM launch follow?

The engine may be used in the Hwasong-20, which analysts say is capable of hitting targets around the globe.

North Korea and Belarus sign friendship treaty on Lukashenko’s first visit

Kim Jong-un and Alexander Lukashenko formalise ties in Pyongyang, agree to cooperate in an array of fields.

Kim welcomes Belarus’ Lukashenko to North Korea with a 21-gun salute

The two countries also signed a ‘friendship and cooperation’ treaty to deepen ties.

Belarus frees 250 political prisoners as US removes more sanctions

It was the latest step in the Belarusian leader’s effort to improve ties with Washington.

Allies tepid on joining Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ as countries study invites

Some leaders sign on to the Trump-chaired body, but initial reaction from two key allies, France and Canada, was lukewarm.

Russia’s nuclear-capable missiles enter service, heightening Ukraine tensions

After Trump-Zelensky talks, Putin projects power by deploying nuclear-ready Oreshnik missiles to Belarus as a warning to the West.

Russia likely moving new nuclear missiles that are hard to intercept to Belarus

Experts say deployment of the Oreshnik a strategic shift to deter Nato and extend Moscow’s missile range in Europe.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Can Belarus balance relations with Russia, China and the US?

Minsk aims to rebalance its foreign policy towards Beijing and Washington but geopolitical realities prevent a full break from Russia.

Russia deploys nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile to Belarus amid Ukraine talks

Russian state media says it would take the weapon only 17 minutes to reach Nato headquarters in Brussels.

Belarus agrees to stop balloon flights into Lithuania amid hybrid attack fears

The incidents have caused over a dozen closures of Vilnius airport in recent months, prompting Lithuania to declare a state of emergency.

Belarus frees 123 prisoners in exchange for US sanctions relief

Peace prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova and 121 others have been released by one of Russia’s key allies.

Lithuania declares national emergency over balloons from Belarus

The declaration is in response to frequent airspace violations by smuggling balloons that Lithuania calls a ‘hybrid attack’ from Belarus.

Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid intensify as winter approaches

Trump said on Sunday he may tell Putin that he could supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles if the war is not settled.

Foreign leaders ride the rapid rails of China’s tech prowess after SCO summit

Blazing from Tianjin to Beijing on China’s signature high-speed railway, several state leaders are given a glimpse of rapid and lucrative modernisation efforts.

6 takeaways from Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit opening

Xi Jinping urges members’ cooperation and setting up a development bank as Vladimir Putin blames Nato for Ukraine crisis.

Central Beijing blocked off for China’s WWII anniversary parade rehearsal

Thousands take part in preparations to mark 80 years since the defeat of Japanese forces.

Putin ally Lukashenko says he won’t seek another term as Belarus president

The leader was interviewed by a US media outlet, in a sign of thawing relations with the United States under Trump.

Opinion | Can Belarus balance relations with Russia, China and the US?