US authorities do not force Belarus to choose between cooperation with Moscow or Washington, said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday at a meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.

According to Pompeo, they understand that Belarus has a long history of relations with Russia, TASS reported.

He noted that they are not talking about a choice between the US and Russia. 

The Secretary of State sid the US is ready to cooperate with Minsk so that Belarus has sovereignty and independence.

He also noted that the US is concerned about the human rights situation in Belarus, but they count on progress in this matter.

Relations between Belarus and the West have improved in recent years amid the role of Minsk in resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine. However, despite some warming in relations, problems remain, including the situation with regard to human rights and democratic reforms. Pompeo arrived in Minsk from Kyiv. This is the first visit of such a level by a representative of the American administration over the past 25 years.