Дейвидас Матуленис. Фото: flickr.com/photos/internationaltransportforum/
Deividas Matulionis, the Lithuanian president’s chief national security adviser, has described a Politico article about US pressure on Lithuania to resume transit of Belarusian potash fertilisers as outdated. The article was published last week. However, according to Matulionis, the information it contains is several months old.
“I am surprised by the information in Politico: it appears to be several months old. There were contacts several months ago, and the issue was discussed. Nothing has happened since,” he said today on Žinių radijas.
The Lithuanian presidential adviser noted that the sanctions should remain in force at least until February, when the issue is due to be considered at EU level. He declined to announce Lithuania’s position ahead of the upcoming vote. According to him, a review of the sanctions regime would be possible if Belarus changed its behaviour, particularly its support for Russia in the war against Ukraine. However, he added, “we have no such illusions”.