While speaking about Belarusian burger buns in a former McDonald’s restaurant, Aliaksandr Lukashenka inadvertently mentioned an upcoming visit by an American delegation to Minsk. On Sunday he visited one of the Mak.by chain restaurants.
He traditionally launched into reflections about how Belarus can produce everything itself. He addressed his remarks to the restaurant’s female employees. First Deputy Prime Minister Mikalai Snapkou was also standing nearby.
“Well, you know how it is with us — oh my God, we can’t do it. Oh, McDonald’s has left. I say: be glad it left. Our people are staying. We know how to bake buns. Well, she here says: ‘Ah, the equipment.’ But our own buns… Belarusians need to be trained to get used to our own buns. ‘Oh, we can’t make the patty.’ I heard about these patties for a whole year. I say: ‘Fine, I’ll come and cook you a patty the way I know how. People will eat the Belarusian way.’ A week later they found the patty. The same with the buns. ‘Oh, the buns, the buns.’ I say: ‘Listen, the country bakes so much bread, buns, ice cream and everything else. How can we not do it?’ Two months later they’re baking the bun… Yes, they go back and forth like that, but we need our own,” Lukashenka went into a rambling explanation.
He then suddenly started speaking about the visit of an American delegation to Minsk and addressed Snapkou.
“Now let the Americans come and see. When they come to me, be sure to bring them here. Tell them: let’s go to McDonald’s and read the sign — ‘MAK.by. Belarusian.’ Belarusians working, Belarusian equipment, Belarusian product. Eat,” Lukashenka said.
Notably, Snapkou had previously not participated in negotiations with the American side. His portfolio mainly concerns relations with China and Chinese projects in Belarus, including the construction of the Nezhin Mining and Processing Plant in Liubań, which was financed with a Chinese loan.
On December 18, 2025, speaking at the Belarusian People’s Assembly, Lukashenka proposed that the Americans buy the Nezhin mining complex.
