{"id":180771,"date":"2026-03-24T17:12:06","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T14:12:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/180771\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T17:12:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T14:12:08","slug":"lithuanian-president-rejects-idea-of-engagement-with-minsk","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/180771\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuanian president rejects idea of engagement with Minsk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

March 24, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Lithuanian President Gitanas Naus\u0117da rejected the idea of engagement with Minsk during a meeting with John Coale, the US special envoy for Belarus, on March 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy answer was absolutely clear, because we know this neighbor well\u2014specifically this dictator. My message to Mr. Coale was that we should interpret any steps by the Belarusian authorities with extreme caution, because they are inseparable from the Russian state in their nature and due to their identification with Russia,\u201d LRT<\/em> reported, citing BNS<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naus\u0117da noted that Belarus seeks to drive a wedge among NATO allies, in particular between the United States and the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He welcomed Washington\u2019s efforts to secure the release of Belarus\u2019s political prisoners, but stressed that Minsk is using its engagement with the United States for political purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe reminded our American counterparts that the EU sanctions regime with regard to Belarus remains in force\u2014it was extended by 12 months\u2014and, at least during this period, there are no legal or other grounds to discuss lifting or easing sanctions,\u201d he said. He added that Lithuania\u2019s neighbors, seen as alternative export routes for Belarusian fertilizers, share the same position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier, Naus\u0117da said he had warned Coale to be cautious in dealing with the Belarusian dictator. He also noted that he had not discussed any possible easing of sanctions with the US envoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coale also met with Prime Minister Inga Ruginien\u0117 on March 18 before traveling to Minsk the following day to seek the release of 250 prisoners in exchange for sanctions relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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