U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun speaks at a news briefing with South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young after their meeting at the foreign ministry in Seoul, South Korea, July 08, 2020. Chung Sung-Jun/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
Reuters: Exclusive: No. 2 U.S. diplomat to visit Russia, Lithuania to discuss Belarus
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number two U.S. diplomat will visit Russia and Lithuania soon for talks on Belarus, two sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, as Washington seeks a peaceful resolution to that country’s election crisis that averts Russian intervention.
Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun’s planned mission signals a greater U.S. role in trying to settle the strife that erupted when Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko brutally cracked down on peaceful protesters rejecting his claim of a landslide Aug. 9 election win.
Asked about Biegun’s planned trip, a State Department spokesman said “there is no travel to announce at this time.”
One source, a former senior U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Biegun was expected to leave in the coming days for Moscow and the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, where Belarusian opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took refuge after Lukashenko launched his crackdown.
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WNU Editor: I am not optimistic on these US efforts. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has no interest in stepping down.
4 comments:
The beginning of a "peaceful resolution" is recognizing that the Belarusian president isn't "stepping down" and there's nothing that can be done to make this happen. Deal with reality and act accordingly. Within this framework good outcomes are possible. Construct policies based upon ideology instead of reality and good outcomes are problematic at best.
Based upon reality America's policy should be, 1.) how can we help the Belarusian president hasten his inevitahle victory saving both lives and money and just maybe gaining the gratitude of him and his supporters. If America is to survive, we will need powerful friends. 2.) Simply stay out of this.
The Putin Dog speaks.
I would think a country wide shut down of some length that demonstrates unity and determination will eventually prevail. A change of military support would be a blow Lukashenko could not survive.
Suck it up Putin.
"The Putin dog speaks." Are you addressing me? All I did was state the obvious regarding geopolitical realities. Are you suggesting we enter into a conflict supporting an unrealistic position where no American interests are involved, there's nothing for us to gain, and there's huge downside risks? In my considered opinion such a position would be extremely stupid.
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