Leverage of sanctions in geopolitical negotiations: The US used sanctions on Belarusian potash exports as leverage to secure a high-profile prisoner release, revealing sanctions' role beyond economic pressure to include political bargaining.

Norms of political negotiation with authoritarian regimes: The prisoner release, coupled with easing sanctions, illustrates a pragmatic US approach toward authoritarian Belarus involving concessions, which may set precedents for dealing with similar regimes linked to adversaries like Russia.

Complexity of Western strategy amid Russia-Ukraine conflict: The move underscores Western efforts to recalibrate relations with Russia's allies, seeking to balance sanctions, diplomacy, and conflict mediation simultaneously, complicating coherence of Western unity.