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US Removes Sanctions on Belarusian Potash, Ignores Belarus’ New Wave of Repression
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The US has lifted sanctions on Belarusian potash exports, which previously accounted for 20% of global supply. This decision was confirmed by US Special Representative to Belarus, John Cole, who stated that the move follows US President Trump’s directives, The Moscow Times reported, citing Belarussian state media on December 13.
Cole emphasized that the US intends to continue negotiations with Belarus, with more sanctions likely to be lifted as relations normalize between the two nations.
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“In accordance with President Trump’s directive, the US is lifting sanctions on potash. I think this is a very good move by the US for Belarus. We are lifting them now,” Cole stated.
The US had imposed restrictions on Belarusian state-owned enterprise Belaruskalij in 2021 in response to the Belarusian government’s suppression of mass protests. These sanctions hindered Belarus’s ability to export potash and forced the country to seek new markets in Asia, often at discounted prices.
Previously, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry had condemned a new wave of politically motivated arrests in Belarus, denouncing the Lukashenko regime’s crackdown on citizens allegedly connected to the “Belaruski Hajun” case as part of a broader campaign of repression.
“With regret, we note that in neighboring Belarus, anything can become grounds for being labeled a ‘traitor,’” the ministry stated.
Kyiv believes the mass arrests are aimed at creating an “exchange fund”—a pool of hostages that Lukashenko intends to trade for political concessions. “Such arbitrary detentions are meant to help Lukashenko buy indulgences in exchange for innocent people he throws into prison,” the statement continued.
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