Ukraine opposes easing sanctions against fertiliser producer Belaruskali – Ukrainian Foreign Ministry

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said the country does not support easing sanctions against Belarusian fertiliser producer Belaruskali and instead advocates increasing pressure.

Source: Sybiha in response to a question from European Pravda during a joint press conference with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Kyiv.

Details: Sybiha commented on reports that partners are trying to persuade Ukraine to ease sanctions pressure on Belarus and said that Kyiv is categorically opposed to such a move.

Quote: "We reject any approaches related to easing pressure on the aggressor. On the contrary, pressure must be increased, and we have received a position paper from the Belarusian side regarding new sanctions."

Details: The minister declined to comment on reports in Western media outlets suggesting that the US administration is seeking to persuade Ukraine to reduce this pressure.

However, he noted that attempts to influence Ukraine are pointless because they will not help change the policy of the regime of self-proclaimed Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko in supporting Russia.

Quote: "There should be no illusions that any easing of pressure will pull Belarus out of Russia's sphere of influence. It will not. He [Lukashenko] is too deeply incorporated and too closely integrated with the Russians."

Background:

• Bloomberg reported that the US is pressuring Ukraine to lift restrictions on Belarusian fertilisers, which are an important source of funding for the regime.
• There were also reports that Lithuania had acknowledged pressure from the US regarding Belarusian fertilisers, although Lithuanian officials later denied that a minister had made such an admission.

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