U.S. lifts sanctions on Belaruskali after talks in Minsk

According to Washington’s special envoy to Belarus, John Cole, who made a statement during a visit to Minsk, the United States has lifted sanctions on the Belarusian potash producer Belaruskali.

Speaking to state news agency BelTA, Cole said the decision was taken in line with instructions from President Donald Trump. “In accordance with President Trump’s instructions, the US is lifting sanctions on Belaruskali. I think this is a very good move on the part of the US for Belarus. We are lifting them now,” he said.

Cole added that discussions on sanctions would continue, with the stated aim of eventually removing all remaining restrictions.

The announcement followed meetings in Minsk between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and a US delegation led by Cole. The talks took place at the Palace of Independence and continued on Saturday, December 13, according to BelTA.

The sanctions in question were imposed in August 2021, on the anniversary of Belarus’s disputed presidential election. At that time, Washington introduced new measures targeting key sectors of the Belarusian economy, including the state-owned producer Belaruskali, one of the world’s largest potash suppliers. The restrictions came into force in December 2021 and also affected the Belarusian Potash Company (BPC), the main export channel for Belaruskali’s fertilizers.