December 15, Pozirk. The European Union does not intend to follow Washington in lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash fertilizers, Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign affairs chief, has told Deutsche Welle.
The EU prioritizes strategic objectives, one of which remains to put sanctions pressure on the aggressor and its accomplices, she said, referring to Russia that wages an aggressive war on Ukraine and authorities in Belarus that have been supporting Moscow since 2022.
Washington announced that it will be lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash fertilizers following the meeting between Aleksandar Łukašenka and John Coale, US special envoy to Belarus. Negotiations in Minsk on December 12 and 13 also resulted in the release of 123 designated political prisoners, including prominent opposition figures and politicians.
Washington’s easing of sanctions on Belarusian potash exports would not affect the position of the EU or Lithuania on this issue, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys stressed today.
The politician also said Lithuania remains unwilling to hold high-level talks with Minsk, adding that Minsk had reportedly rejected a proposal for a Lithuanian ambassador-at-large to negotiate border tensions.
The EU Foreign Affairs Council is expected to extend sanctions against Belarus at its meeting today.
