European Union countries cannot participate in a fertilizer deal with Belarus — Lithuanian Foreign Ministry

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys stated on September 22 that no European Union country can currently join the agreement on the import of Belarusian fertilizers being negotiated by the United States. According to him, participation in such an agreement is currently impossible for EU member states.

 

Budrys believes that the agreement on the supply of potash fertilizers from Belarus to the U.S. will have no direct impact on Lithuania.

“What is happening between the U.S. and Belarus is a matter of bilateral relations. The sanctions the U.S. is lifting are not directly related to the actions of the European Union or its sanctions policy. Therefore, we view this announcement as a matter of bilateral relations that does not directly concern us,” the minister said.

He noted that he had informed U.S. officials that the current EU sanctions regime prohibits the bloc not only from importing Belarusian fertilizers but also from facilitating their transit through the territories of member states.

“It doesn’t matter who owns the potash fertilizers, which companies ship them, or in which country they are registered. Potash fertilizers mined in Belarus cannot enter the EU,” Budris emphasized.

When asked about possible pressure from the U.S. on Lithuania or the EU to reconsider the sanctions, the head of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry replied that the reasons for imposing restrictions on Belarus are clear—human rights violations, suppression of the opposition, and support for Russia—adding that these reasons have not changed.

“There is no basis for discussing a review of the sanctions. Today, I see no room for discussion on this topic,” Budris noted.

The minister also emphasized that all attempts by the United States to ease relations with Belarus have only resulted in more aggressive behavior by Minsk along the border with NATO countries, according to LRT.

Earlier, Lukashenko responded to Trump’s announcement of a potash deal.

Prior to that, Trump had announced a major business deal with Lukashenko’s regime.

U.S. Special Envoy John Cole stated that Belarus could play an important role in supplying potash fertilizers to the United States.