Washington insists on revising restrictions on Belarusian potash fertilisers and calls on Ukraine to influence Europe on this issue. The White House believes that such a step could reduce Minsk's dependence on Russia and help normalise relations between Ukraine and Belarus.
US calls on Kyiv to ease sanctions
Administration Donald Trump advocates rapprochement between Ukraine and Belarus, promoting the idea of gradual easing of sanctions against Minsk. As reported by Bloomberg, The United States is proposing that Kyiv ease restrictions on the import of Belarusian potash fertilisers and is urging its European partners to do the same.
Washington sees a chance to rebalance
Washington believes that this approach could help reduce Russia's influence on Belarus. The idea is that the economic easing pressure on Minsk will allow him to gradually distance himself from Moscow. The Trump administration is convinced that Ukraine has a key role to play in this process, in particular by influencing the European Union's position on sanctions.
The position of Ukraine and Europe
So far, there has been no official reaction from Kyiv to the US proposal. Ukraine, like the EU, has been imposing strict restrictions on Belarusian goods, including potash fertilisers, since 2022 due to Minsk's support for Russian aggression. However, Washington believes that the gradual easing of sanctions could become a tool for changing Belarus' political course and bringing it closer to the West.
Why it matters
The rapprochement between Kyiv and Minsk, initiated by the United States, could have significant implications for regional security. If Belarus actually begins to reduce its dependence on Russia, it will potentially weaken Moscow's position in Eastern Europe. At the same time, the issue of sanctions against Belarusian fertilisers remains sensitive for the Ukrainian agricultural market and political relations with the West.
