All trends
Belarus-West relations
The Lukashenka regime calls for dialogue as the West prepares the eighth package of sanctions
September 19 – September 25
Belarus hopes to outmanoeuvre the West with the help of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
September 12 – September 18
A new round of horse trading over political prisoners will not alleviate the sanctions blockade
September 5 – September 11
Minsk gambles on the collapse of Euro-Atlantic unity and Russian victory
August 29 – September 4
The Belarusian regime hopes for a quick Russian victory and once again threatens the West
August 22 – August 28
The Lukashenka regime says it hears overtures from the West but prefers to negotiate from a position of strength
August 15 – August 21
On the second anniversary of the political crisis, the West retains its uncompromising position
August 8 – August 14
In response to Western sanctions: support for Russia against Ukraine and re-orientation to the “far abroad”
August 1 – August 7
Minsk develops an export diversification strategy in response to Western sanctions
July 25 – July 31
The West ignores signals from Minsk as the regime bets further afield
July 18 – July 24
The West softens some sanctions against Russia, but confirms pressure on Belarus
July 11 – July 17
The Belarusian regime escalates as the West prepares the seventh package of sanctions
July 4 – July 10
The West labels Russia a strategic security threat, while the Belarusian regime swears allegiance to the Kremlin
June 27 – July 3
The European Commission considers the future of Belarus as Lukashenka blackmails the West with nuclear weapons
June 20 – June 26
The West deepens the isolation of Belarus and turns it into an arena of geopolitical rivalry with Russia
June 13 – June 19
Ukrainian grain transit through Belarus faces opposition from the West
June 6 – June 12
The EU introduces the sixth package of sanctions against Belarus amid discussion of a transit scheme for Ukrainian grain
May 30 – June 5
The Belarusian regime is trying to justify participation in aggression and soften Western sanctions
May 23 – May 29
Belarusian potash in exchange for easing Western sanctions?
May 16 – May 22
As the West tightens sanctions, the Belarusian regime distances itself from the war
May 9 – May 15
The Belarusian regime hopes to mediate between Russia and the West while demanding security guarantees in the face of new sanctions
May 2 – May 8
The Belarusian regime is rapidly losing relevance in the eyes of the West
April 25 – May 1
The West has not rejected dialogue with Belarus in principle, although it considers it a co-aggressor
April 18 – April 24
The Belarusian regime calls on the West for dialogue, but the West does not see an independent player
April 11 – April 17
Under increasing Western pressure, Minsk is eager for negotiations on Ukraine and demands security guarantees
April 4 – April 10
The Belarusian regime condemns itself to sanctions and blockades from the West
March 28 – April 3
The West calls on Belarus to stop enabling Russian aggression against Ukraine and threatens joint complicity
March 21 – March 27
Belarus may find itself blockaded due to participation in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine
March 14 – March 20
The international community sees Belarus as an aggressor state and strengthens sanctions pressure
March 7 – March 13
The West will punish Belarus as harshly as Russia for aggression against Ukraine
February 28 – March 6
The West imposes new sanctions against Belarus for aggression against Ukraine
February 21 – February 27
The West is preparing a new package of sanctions against Belarus in connection with the escalation of the Ukraine crisis and the controversial constitutional referendum
February 14 – February 20
By escalating, Minsk risks losing its relevance and provoking new Western sanctions
February 7 – February 13
Minsk continues to escalate confrontation with the West, despite the obvious costs
January 31 – February 6
The regime loses agency in the eyes of the West despite of trying to do the opposite
January 17 – January 23
A constitutional referendum in exchange for the lifting of Western sanctions?
January 10 – January 16
The Belarusian regime threatens the West with diplomatic and transit conflicts
December 20 – December 26