Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya believes that easing EU sanctions against her home country is the wrong approach and has rejected calls from the US for the bloc to do so.
“We are in constant contact with our American partners and are urging them not to put pressure on EU countries, particularly Lithuania, to lift European sanctions,” Tsikhanouskaya said in Vilnius, according to Lithuanian media reports on Monday.
“It is clear to all of us that, for example, lifting sanctions on potash fertilisers would only strengthen the regime and provide additional funds for repression and the war in Ukraine,” she added.
Tsikhanouskaya was responding to comments by US Special Envoy John Coale, who had recently called on Lithuania to resume the transit of Belarusian fertilizers and to hold a high-level meeting with the authoritarian leadership in Minsk.
Coale had also mentioned that preparations were under way for a possible visit by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to Washington.
US President Donald Trump wrote on his platform Truth Social that he was looking forward to participating in the next meeting of his Board of Peace alongside Lukashenko.
Belarus is considered a major producer of fertilizers and can now trade with the US again after Washington recently eased sanctions in return for the release of political prisoners.
The EU, by contrast, only recently extended its punitive measures against Belarus by 12 months.
“President Trump has enough influence to help the Belarusians secure the release of all political prisoners. However, we ask the Europeans to save their strongest cards for more significant steps,” Tsikhanouskaya said.