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Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys believes that U.S. attempts to ease relations with Lukashenka are only leading to more aggressive behavior by Minsk on the borders with NATO countries. He made the statement while commenting on the possible potash fertilizer deal that U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday was being prepared.
As LRT reports, the minister acknowledged that a potential deal would affect the security situation in the region.
“All attempts by the United States to ease relations with Belarus have led to increased aggressive behavior by Belarus on the border with NATO countries,” the broadcaster quoted Budrys as saying.
He also stressed that the possible deal does not concern Lithuania, as it involves bilateral relations between Washington and Minsk. At the same time, the minister noted that sanctions banning the transit of fertilizers through Lithuania were adopted at the European Union level and would not be lifted.
“What is happening between the United States and Belarus is a bilateral matter, relations between those states. The lifting of U.S. sanctions is not directly connected with the actions of the European Union or its sanctions policy. Therefore, having learned about this statement from public sources, we view it as a matter of bilateral relations that does not directly concern us,” Budrys said.
“The current regulations on sanctions against Belarus stipulate that no fertilizers may be present on the territory of the EU. Transportation is prohibited. This includes transit. It does not matter who owns the potash fertilizers, it does not matter which company ships them or in which country it is registered — potash fertilizers produced in Belarus cannot enter the territory of the EU,” he explained.
The minister was also asked whether the United States had pressured Lithuania to reconsider the sanctions. Budrys said the restrictions against the Belarusian authorities had been imposed because of human rights violations, the suppression of the opposition and support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
“Until this changes, there is no point in talking about a review of the sanctions. Today, I see no room for discussion on this matter,” he said.