Lukashenko joins Trump's 'Board of Peace' as US eases his isolation

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed an agreement on Tuesday to join U.S. President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, the latest step in a

rapprochement with Washington after years of international isolation.



A presidential Telegram channel published video of Lukashenko signing the document, and quoted him as saying he hoped to contribute towards peace in Ukraine.



Lukashenko, in power since 1994, was long shunned by the West because of his ‍poor human rights record and backing for Russian President Vladimir Putin in the war in Ukraine.



But Trump last year began easing sanctions on Belarus in return for the release of political prisoners. He has called Lukashenko a "highly respected" leader - a description that jars with the exiled Belarus opposition, which sees him as a dictator.