US Pressures Lithuania to Resume Belarusian Fertilizer Transit as EU Sanctions Stay in Force
Updated
Updated · pozirk.online · May 15
US Pressures Lithuania to Resume Belarusian Fertilizer Transit as EU Sanctions Stay in Force
6 articles · Updated · pozirk.online · May 15
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys told lawmakers the United States is applying “pressure” on Vilnius to reopen transit for Belarusian fertilizers, according to LRT sources cited by Pozirk.
Washington sees Lithuania as the most attractive route for moving Belarusian potash to Baltic ports and is reportedly pressing other regional states as possible alternatives.
US officials had already explored workarounds, including having an American company buy Biełaruśkalij products and rebrand them as US goods or ship them under a “humanitarian” label.
EU sanctions still bar Belarusian potash transit and were extended for another year in February, while Lithuania says it has not changed its view on the reasons those sanctions were imposed.
The push follows a broader US-Belarus thaw after Alexander Lukashenko freed 250 jailed dissidents in March and Minsk later said Washington lifted sanctions on Biełaruśkalij and other Belarusian entities.
With EU and UK laws blocking transit, how can the US realistically get Belarusian potash to global markets?
Is the US push for Belarusian potash fracturing Western unity more than it is weakening Russia's influence?
Is global food security a valid reason to lift sanctions on a regime holding 1,100 political prisoners?