U.S. envoy John Coale revealed that former President Trump intervened to secure the release of Polish journalist Andrzej Poczobut, following a request from Polish President Duda.
U.S. Envoy Details Trump’s Role in Poczobut Release
According to U.S. envoy John Coale, President Trump was directly asked by Polish President Andrzej Duda in September of last year to assist in securing the release of Andrzej Poczobut. Coale stated that Trump subsequently pressured him to facilitate Poczobut’s release, a process that ultimately proved successful.
Coale also emphasized his strong working relationship with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, which he believes was instrumental in achieving Poczobut’s freedom.
No Sanctions Relief Tied to Prisoner Release
Coale assured that, unlike previous prisoner releases, this instance was not contingent upon the lifting of sanctions against Belarus. He attributed the successful release after months of effort to “persistence” and the cultivation of a positive relationship with Alexander Lukashenko.
Building Relations with Lukashenko Key to Progress
“I have very good relations with Lukashenko, of course for diplomatic purposes,” Coale stated. “So it was primarily about perseverance and building relations with Lukashenko, which give me an increasingly better position. Perseverance, constant questioning, constant persuasion. And finally, we reached an agreement.”
Multiple Countries Involved in Prisoner Exchange
John Coale noted the involvement of numerous countries and institutions in securing Andrzej Poczobut’s release. He acknowledged the assistance of Polish special services in “contacting other involved countries.”
Broader Prisoner Exchange Details Emerge
As part of the prisoner exchange, Poland released Russian archaeologist Alexander Butiagin, who was detained in Poland at Ukraine’s request in December 2025 on charges of illegal archaeological activity in Crimea. Former Moldovan intelligence official Alexandru Balan, imprisoned by Romania and linked to Belarusian intelligence, was also reportedly transferred to Russia.
Romania, Czech Republic, and Hungary Assisted in Exchange
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis confirmed on X that Romanian, Czech, and Hungarian intelligence services also participated in the prisoner exchange operation.
Potential Lukashenko Visit to U.S. “Possible and Discussed”
Coale indicated that a potential visit by Alexander Lukashenko to the United States is “possible and is being discussed,” though no final decision has been made.
Envoy Defends Approach to Belarus
Coale dismissed suggestions that his approach to Belarus is naive or unduly rewards Lukashenko, such as through potential visits or sanctions relief. He argued that the release of 500 prisoners justifies his methods.
“Well, maybe it’s naive, but I would advise them (critics) to talk to each of those 500 prisoners who were released. It’s not naive for them,” Coale said. “We are moving forward with all of this. And no one knows the final result. We can only strive for the ideal result. It may succeed, it may not, but we are still trying.”
500 Released Through Negotiations with Lukashenko
Coale previously stated that negotiations with Alexander Lukashenko have led to the release of 500 individuals held in Belarus.
“People must understand that to get this far – to release over 500 people, two sides are needed – in this case, Belarus and the United States with the help of many countries. But Belarus did not have to do this, just as we did not have to do what we did. But for humanitarian reasons, it happened on both sides,” Coale explained. “And that’s what people do when they are part of the family of nations. They talk about different things and it yields results. Discussions are held, economic agreements are concluded.”
Envoy Unfamiliar with Polish Political Divisions
When asked about differing accounts of Poczobut’s release offered by the Polish government and the President, Coale stated he had recently heard about political divisions in Poland but “really doesn’t know anything about them.”
Poczobut Released After Five Years of Imprisonment
Andrzej Poczobut, a Polish journalist and activist, was released from prison on Tuesday after five years as part of a broader prisoner exchange. Along with Poczobut, Father Grzegorz Gawel was also released to Poland, as well as a Belarusian citizen who cooperated with Polish intelligence services.
