Šimonytė, who was prime minister in 2020–2024, was speaking after Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said on Thursday there had been an “increase in activity” from the US administration on the matter.
“This discussion has not surfaced today – it comes and goes,” Šimonytė told Žinių radijas.
“Lukashenko also said yesterday or the day before that he is preparing for war. The whole environment looks very schizophrenic, so we need to keep a cool head and do our job,” the lawmaker said.
“There will be all kinds of waves, better days and worse days,” she added, calling for a measured response to various signals and speculations surrounding the issue.
Foreign Minister Budys earlier said Lithuania adhered to the EU’s position and sanctions on Belarus had been extended until February 2027. Therefore, according to him, there is no need to discuss lifting the restrictions.
US Special Envoy for Belarus John Coale said in an interview to the public broadcaster LRT in March that Lithuania could hold a bilateral meeting with Belarus on the level of deputy foreign ministers.
He also said the transit of Belarusian potash fertilisers could resume through Lithuania to reach European and US markets.
As reported, US President Joe Biden’s administration imposed sanctions on Belarusian fertilisers in 2021, a year after the fraudulent Belarusian presidential election in which Alexander Lukashenko declared victory.
The EU imposed sanctions on Belarusian fertilisers in 2022. Lithuanian Railways (LTG) terminated the agreement on Belarusian fertiliser transit the same year after the Government concluded that the Belarusian company Belaruskali poses a threat to Lithuania’s national security.