Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko called US President Donald Trump's wife, Melania, "the country's most powerful weapon".
He made this statement at a session of the All-Belarusian People's Assembly, BelTA reports.
„I told the US President's special envoy for Belarus John Cole: ask Trump why you don't use Melania - the most powerful weapon he has? She is from our people, a Slavic woman“, Lukashenko said.
According to the Belarusian leader, he suggested Melania "get more involved in political issues“. “This would not be a bad thing for Trump“, he added.
Lukashenko recalled that Trump's wife is of Slovenian origin and “could do a lot both in the Ukrainian conflict and in Belarus“, adding that it is necessary to involve “not only Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in resolving the conflict“.
The Belarusian leader raised this issue in connection with the question of whether to repatriate citizens with Belarusian roots to Belarus. Lukashenko recalled that Kushner's ancestors are from the Novogrudok district of the Grodno region. “We invited the American ambassador to France. He is Kushner's father, Charles.
“We invited him too, we maintain relations with him, he responds, we talk“, he said, adding that Jared Kushner was also invited through the ambassador.
On December 13, Trump and his wife delivered a personal message to Lukashenko through the US special envoy for Belarus, John Cole. In the letter, the president and first lady thanked the Belarusian side and Lukashenko personally for the hospitality and gifts. The Trump family wished Lukashenko a Merry Christmas.
Earlier, Lukashenko presented Melania Trump with jewelry in the form of Belarusian cornflowers and other items, and her husband with an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Belarus 1 TV channel reported.
Following a meeting on December 12 with the American delegation led by Cole, the United States announced the lifting of sanctions on Belarusian potash, and the Belarusian authorities announced the pardon of 123 citizens of various countries convicted of espionage, terrorist and extremist activities. The decision was made “as part of the agreements reached with US President Donald Trump and at his request, in connection with the lifting of illegal sanctions against...“ potash industry of the Republic of Belarus“.