Saulius Skvernelis: Lithuania would face a huge dilemma if EU sanctions on Belarusian fertilisers were lifted

If the European Union (EU) were to lift sanctions on Belarusian potash fertilisers, Lithuania would face a huge dilemma what to do next, says Saulius Skvernelis, leader of the Democratic Union of Lithuania (DUP).

„Lithuania does not sell its values, but of course there are nuances. If the EU sanctions on fertilisers were lifted, then, of course, Lithuania would have a huge dilemma what to do next, because we also have our own national sanctions," Skvernelis told Žinių radios on Friday.

„But if there are no more European sanctions (– ELTA), then Belarusian fertilisers can follow other routes. There are not many alternatives there (…), but in that case, if there are no more European sanctions, then there is no sense (…) to do it for Lithuania alone, because it's very easy to get around it, as was the case with the closure of the border with Belarus, – he pointed out.

On Thursday, President Gitanas Nausėda said that as long as smuggled balloons are flying into Lithuania, there is no possibility to talk about the transit of Belarusian fertilisers through Lithuania.

„Such talk will have no basis at all as long as at least one balloon from the Belarusian side flies into Lithuania. We will be completely blocked on this issue, no one in the world will change our minds," said Nausėda.

ELTA recalls that in mid-December last year the US Special Envoy to Belarus, John Coale, announced that the United States was lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash exports. He also noted that discussions on sanctions would continue.

U.S. sanctions on Belarusian fertilisers came into force in 2021, one year after the Belarusian presidential election illegally won by Aliaksandr Lukashenko.

At that time, all US individuals and entities were required to complete transactions with Belarusian potash fertiliser producer Belaruskali.

The European Union (EU) also imposed sanctions on Belarusian fertilisers in 2022.