Polish diplomat: still no sanctions on Belarus due to Sweden’s “passivity”

April 10, BPN. Work on new EU sanctions against Belarus is not progressing because of the fertilizers issue and the “passivity” of Sweden, which is currently chairing the EU, Polish news agency PAP reports, quoting Andrzej Sadoś, Warsaw’s envoy to the EU.

“The Swedes virtually do nothing about it,” he said (quotes rendered from Belarusian).

“We were very disappointed about a lack of ambition in terms of sanctions against Belarus, so needed because of reprisals against the opposition in that country, its participation in the war on the Russian side, as well as its plans to host nuclear weapons,” he added.

According to PAP, sanctions are also blocked by some of the Western European nations, which insist on looser restrictions on Belarusian fertilizer exports.

“We object to harmony between sanctions on Belarus and Russia leading to the lifting of sanctions on the key export – Belarusian potassium,” the diplomat added.

Quoting an unnamed diplomat, PAP said ensuring food safety amid the war in Ukraine can become an argument in favor of whitelisting Belarusian potassium, but the price of grain on the world market is now lower than before the war, so this argument is invalid.

In March, Sadoś said Warsaw suggests immediate sanctions on Belarus over the verdict handed down against prominent Belarusian human rights defenders. A lack of commitment by Sweden currently holding the EU Council presidency prevents further sanctions, a diplomatic source told PAP back at the time.