US President Donald Trump on Friday praised Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, calling him "highly respected" and saying he looks foward to meeting him. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social network,

President Donald Trump spoke with Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko on Friday, just hours before his Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Calling the discussion “wonderful,” Trump thanked Lukashenko for releasing 16 political prisoners and explored a deal for freeing 1,

"Special Report" host Bret Baier on Friday reported President Donald Trump spoke to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Air Force One and told the president that Vladimir Putin is "ready to deal.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko announced in an interview published by Times magazine on Friday that he would not seek another term. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko announced in an interview published by Times magazine on Friday that he would not seek another term.

Putin ally Lukashenko has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for more than than three decades and is now on seventh term.

Belarus and Russia are scheduled to conduct a joint four-day military exercise in September, a move that has put NATO and Ukrainian officials on high alert.

"The head of state demands that we must be ready for all possible scenarios," Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said.

A Belarusian journalist was convicted of treason and revealing state secrets and was sentenced to 10 years in prison after a closed trial.