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All trends

Belarus-West relations

A new round of horse trading over political prisoners will not alleviate the sanctions blockade

September 5 – September 11

Minsk gambles on the collapse of Euro-Atlantic unity and Russian victory

August 29 – September 4

The Belarusian regime hopes for a quick Russian victory and once again threatens the West

August 22 – August 28

The Lukashenka regime says it hears overtures from the West but prefers to negotiate from a position of strength

August 15 – August 21

On the second anniversary of the political crisis, the West retains its uncompromising position

August 8 – August 14

In response to Western sanctions: support for Russia against Ukraine and re-orientation to the “far abroad”

August 1 – August 7

Minsk develops an export diversification strategy in response to Western sanctions

July 25 – July 31

The West ignores signals from Minsk as the regime bets further afield

July 18 – July 24

The West softens some sanctions against Russia, but confirms pressure on Belarus

July 11 – July 17

The Belarusian regime escalates as the West prepares the seventh package of sanctions

July 4 – July 10

The West labels Russia a strategic security threat, while the Belarusian regime swears allegiance to the Kremlin

June 27 – July 3

The European Commission considers the future of Belarus as Lukashenka blackmails the West with nuclear weapons

June 20 – June 26

The West deepens the isolation of Belarus and turns it into an arena of geopolitical rivalry with Russia

June 13 – June 19

Ukrainian grain transit through Belarus faces opposition from the West

June 6 – June 12

The EU introduces the sixth package of sanctions against Belarus amid discussion of a transit scheme for Ukrainian grain

May 30 – June 5

The Belarusian regime is trying to justify participation in aggression and soften Western sanctions

May 23 – May 29

Belarusian potash in exchange for easing Western sanctions?

May 16 – May 22

As the West tightens sanctions, the Belarusian regime distances itself from the war

May 9 – May 15

The Belarusian regime hopes to mediate between Russia and the West while demanding security guarantees in the face of new sanctions

May 2 – May 8

The Belarusian regime is rapidly losing relevance in the eyes of the West

April 25 – May 1

The West has not rejected dialogue with Belarus in principle, although it considers it a co-aggressor

April 18 – April 24

The Belarusian regime calls on the West for dialogue, but the West does not see an independent player

April 11 – April 17

Under increasing Western pressure, Minsk is eager for negotiations on Ukraine and demands security guarantees

April 4 – April 10

The Belarusian regime condemns itself to sanctions and blockades from the West

March 28 – April 3

The West calls on Belarus to stop enabling Russian aggression against Ukraine and threatens joint complicity

March 21 – March 27

Belarus may find itself blockaded due to participation in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine

March 14 – March 20

The international community sees Belarus as an aggressor state and strengthens sanctions pressure

March 7 – March 13

The West will punish Belarus as harshly as Russia for aggression against Ukraine

February 28 – March 6

The West imposes new sanctions against Belarus for aggression against Ukraine

February 21 – February 27

The West is preparing a new package of sanctions against Belarus in connection with the escalation of the Ukraine crisis and the controversial constitutional referendum

February 14 – February 20

By escalating, Minsk risks losing its relevance and provoking new Western sanctions

February 7 – February 13

Minsk continues to escalate confrontation with the West, despite the obvious costs

January 31 – February 6

The regime loses agency in the eyes of the West despite of trying to do the opposite

January 17 – January 23

A constitutional referendum in exchange for the lifting of Western sanctions?

January 10 – January 16

The Belarusian regime threatens the West with diplomatic and transit conflicts

December 20 – December 26

The regime threatens Afghan refugees, nuclear weapons and the suspension of gas transit, the West – with new sanctions

December 13 – December 19

Belarusian regime has introduced counter-sanctions against the West

December 6 – December 12