Trump defends plans to buy potash from Belarus

September 22, Pozirk. US President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that a “potash deal” with Belarus would benefit the Unites States and denied that it would strengthen Russia’s hand in its war against Ukraine.

“Belarus has a lot of potash and our farmers need good prices and we want to get a lower price in Canada. We will continue to go with Canada, but Belarus would like to sell it for a much lower price,” Trump said during a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week.

On September 21, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the United States is “working on a massive deal with respect to the purchase of potash from Belarus.”

“The pricing would be for substantially less than we are currently paying to Canada, very good news for our Farmers and Ranchers,” the post said.

Earlier on Monday, Alaksandar Łukašenka said that Belarus cannot supply large volumes of potash fertilizers to the United States because its output has already been pledged to other countries under contracts for 2026.

Minsk and Washington have been discussing possible potash exports to the United States as part of their talks that have resulted in the release of hundreds of Belarusian political prisoners and the removal of some US sanctions against Belarus.

On September 16, Minsk freed 25 political prisoners following a meeting between Łukašenka and John Coale, the US special envoy for Belarus, in exchange for Washington lifting sanctions on Belarusian Timber, Woodworking, Pulp and Paper Industry Concern (Biellespapierapram) and AAT Łakafarba, a state-owned producer of paints and varnishes.

Coale had reportedly hoped to secure the release of 200 to 300 political prisoners, while Łukašenka said that he was open to both “small and grand bargains” with the US president, including agreements on shipments of Belarusian potash fertilizers.

During his previous visit to Minsk, which took place in March, Coale negotiated the release of 250 political prisoners. Fifteen were taken out of the country, while the rest were allowed to stay in Belarus.

Economy Politics

Economy, Politics

Premier of Canada’s potash-rich province warns USA against “buying blood potash from Belarus”

September 22, Pozirk. Buying blood potash from Belarus is supporting Russian aggression, Scott Moe, premier of Canada’s province of Saskatchewan, wrote on X on Tuesday. “More than 40 countries – Canada and its allies – have sanctions against Belarus for …

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