Belarus became the latest country to join US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" initiative, despite concerns over Minsk's years-long crackdown on dissenting voices and continued support for Moscow in its all-out war against Ukraine, putting the eastern European country under severe sanctions from Brussels and others.
In a statement on X, the Board of Peace said it "welcomes Belarus as a founding member of our growing international organisation." It is unclear whether Minsk paid the $1 billion fee to secure permanent membership for Belarus.
