May 14, Pozirk. The United States is pressuring Lithuania to resume the transit of Belarusian fertilizers through its territory, LRT reports, citing Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys as saying at a closed-door meeting with the Social Democratic faction.
Budrys specifically used the word “pressure” at the meeting, LRT noted, citing its own sources.
While US officials consider Lithuania the most attractive route for transporting Belarusian fertilizers to the Baltic Sea, pressure is reportedly also being applied to other countries in the region, which could serve as transit routes.
Washington previously explored options for transporting Belarusian fertilizers, including a plan in which an American company would purchase Biełaruśkalij goods and rebrand them as US products, the report said. Another scenario considered involved shipping the products under a “humanitarian” designation.
Lithuanian officials stress that transit of Belarusian potash remains restricted under European Union sanctions, which were extended for another year in February.
On March 19, Alaksandar Łukašenka freed 250 jailed dissidents following the talks with John Coale, US special envoy for Belarus. Later, the Belarusian ruler’s press office reported that the US had lifted sanctions on Biełinvestbank and the Development Bank of Belarus, the finance ministry, Biełaruśkalij and the Belarusian Potash Company.
Lithuania banned the transit of Belarusian fertilizers in early 2022 in line with US sanctions, while the EU adopted similar restrictions later.
Earlier this year, Budrys stressed that Lithuania has not changed its position on the original causes of sanctions against Belarus, and he therefore sees no reason to lift them.
