Belaruskaliy Will Not Be Allowed to Transit Products Through Lithuania 0 9

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania stated that the European Union is not discussing the lifting of European sanctions on Belarusian potash following the corresponding decision by the United States.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reminded that the key reasons that led to sanctions against Lukashenko's regime still remain – recalling the ongoing internal repression, as well as support for Russia in the war against Ukraine, "migrant blackmail" against its European neighbors, and, more recently, a hybrid attack using weather balloons with smuggling.

"The release of political prisoners is an important diplomatic achievement; however, Lithuania's position has not changed: Belarus's actions pose significant damage to the security of Lithuania, the EU, and NATO," the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted. Earlier, the Lithuanian government declared a state of emergency throughout the country due to smuggled weather balloons from Belarus, which systematically violated the country's airspace and jeopardized the normal operation of Vilnius Airport.

The transit of Belarusian potash through Klaipeda was halted by Lithuania in 2022 due to U.S. sanctions against "Belaruskaliy," which led to the termination of the contract and the reorientation of Belarus's transit to other routes, including Russian ports. This event was a consequence of the introduction of U.S. sanctions against Belarusian potash fertilizers, and Lithuania, as an EU member, was forced to cease cooperation to avoid penalties, although the EU did not impose similar sanctions. Previously, Lithuania and "Belaruskaliy" had a contract for the transit of up to 11 million tons of fertilizers per year through Klaipeda, which was concluded in 2018.