Belarusian President says he is ready for major deal with US, but not ‘to shake Trump’s hand’

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he is open to reaching a major agreement with the United States, but insisted that any potential meeting with US President Donald Trump should not resemble “a meeting between a vassal and an emperor.”

“We still have many issues to resolve and this is the subject of an important agreement. As soon as we complete this at the lower level, we are ready to meet [Trump] and sign this agreement,” Lukashenko said.

At the same time, the President stressed that he was not in a position where he needed to “bow down” or ask Washington for anything.

“It is not true that I am burning with desire to visit the United States and shake Trump’s hand. I am not [Ukrainian President Volodymyr[ Zelenskyy, who would run to Trump asking for money or weapons,” Lukashenko said.