On February 20, a ceremonial gathering dedicated to the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland and the Armed Forces is being held at the Palace of the Republic in Minsk. Among the guests was the Defense Attaché at the US Embassy in Belarus, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Benson. The Belarusian Defense Ministry attached particular significance to this fact, calling it a “master class in transparency” by Defense Minister Viktar Khrenin.
The ministry’s press service recalled that the first meeting between Khrenin and Benson took place during the Belarusian-Russian “Zapad-2025” exercises and emphasized that the US attaché spoke Russian with Khrenin on this occasion.
“The time is not easy now. I am glad you came to share with us this holiday dedicated to the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland and the Armed Forces,” Khrenin told Benson.
The Defense Ministry also hinted at dialogue.
“The Belarusian defense establishment knows that dialogue is possible only if both sides make efforts,” the press release said.