On December 24, Alyaksandr Lukashenka received reports from the chairman of the State Security Committee, Ivan Tertel, and Defence Minister Viktar Khrenin.
Tertel reported on the work of the State Security Committee in the fields of intelligence and counterintelligence and on the situation in Belarus ahead of the holidays. Lukashenka instructed that all ongoing processes be kept under control “in order to reliably ensure security”.
The discussion also covered relations with the United States, Poland and Lithuania.
Lukashenka and Tertel discussed the continuation of cooperation between special services within the framework of Belarusian-American contacts and new proposals from the United States.
“In particular, the discussion concerned both specific steps and assistance by the Belarusian side in resolving humanitarian issues in the Russia–Ukraine conflict, as well as new US proposals on the negotiation track,” Lukashenka’s press service said.
According to Tertel, Lukashenka and Trump are engaged in active dialogue. He stressed that the talks are being conducted quietly because “there are certain principles so as not to harm the results that are planned to be achieved”.
“This morning I reported to the President on new proposals from the American side, taking into account the position of the Republic of Belarus and the position of our president, aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution of all disputes, especially on Ukraine. Many global- and regional-level topics, as well as bilateral relations, are being discussed,” Tertel was quoted as saying by BelTA.
He noted that Minsk has received new proposals from Washington that are “actively being discussed”, including at the level of a working group comprising senior officials, the prime minister, the head of the Presidential Administration, and representatives of the security and law enforcement agencies.
“Everything is being studied in detail. The possible consequences and the steps we can take. There is a firm approach defined for us by the head of state — the observance of national interests. We move solely in the interests of our country. We calculate every step in the short, medium and long term,” the KGB chairman said.
Tertel said that building relations with the United States is in Belarus’s interests and emphasised the constructive approach of the Trump administration.
“Here we see a new approach by the new administration. It is constructive. Indeed, the US President and his team are doing a great deal for peace in our region to stabilise the situation,” Tertel said.
In his view, the process has many opponents, especially in Europe, who are waiting for the situation in the United States to change. According to the KGB head, Belarus has information confirming this.
“Our American colleagues have also been informed about this and are aware of it,” Tertel said.
Tertel expects positive results from the Belarusian-American negotiations and promised “good news”.
“I am confident that a positive result will be achieved, and after some time we will hear, I assure you, good news in this regard,” he concluded.
The KGB chairman also reported to Lukashenka on the situation on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border in connection with incidents involving weather balloons. It was emphasised that Belarus is “open to constructive interaction and negotiations on issues of border cooperation and beyond”.
In addition, Tertel reported on contacts between Belarusian and Polish special services “aimed at resolving the most acute problems” between the two countries. Lukashenka issued the necessary instructions.
