The United States is pressuring Ukraine to ease restrictions on the import of potash fertilizers from Belarus. European countries should do the same.
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Washington is convinced that the partial lifting of these restrictions and the resumption of exports will help weaken Minsk's economic dependence on the Kremlin and “distance” Alexander Lukashenko from Moscow, Bloomberg news agency reports, citing its own sources.
The US has already lifted a number of its own restrictions. This was part of a non-public agreement, under which the Minsk regime released several hundred political prisoners. But this is not enough – Belarus cannot use the critically important shipping routes through the terminals in the Baltic Sea. Because of this, Minsk continues to be forced to rely on Russian ports and railway infrastructure, the publication writes.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said during a closed-door ruling party meeting that his country, as well as other Baltic states, are currently under diplomatic pressure from the United States over the Belarusian potash issue. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has already made it clear that he will support the continuation and even strengthening of sanctions next year.
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Before the introduction of tough Western sanctions, potash fertilizers, used to increase crop yields, were the main source of foreign exchange earnings for the Belarusian regime.
“FACTS” wrote that Ukraine has imposed sanctions on Belarusian enterprises that produce 122 mm and 152 mm artillery shells for the Russian occupiers. Among them are “Olsa”, the Minsk plant “Termoplast”, the forging plant of heavy stampings, which manufacture parts for shells. Also under sanctions were the Republican Unitary Production Enterprise “VK 9”, which produces packaging for shells, and “NaftoKhimDiagnostics”, where ammunition is tested.
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