{"id":168559,"date":"2025-12-17T12:36:45","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T09:36:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/168559\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"seimas-speaker-signals-potential-shift-in-lithuanias-belarus-policy","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/168559\/","title":{"rendered":"Seimas speaker signals potential shift in Lithuania\u2019s Belarus policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Juozas Olekas\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (Pozirk)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

December 17, Pozirk<\/em><\/strong>. Lithuanian Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas linked possible changes in Lithuania’s Belarus policy to the release of jailed dissidents and return of Lithuanian trucks stranded in Belarus as he spoke to LRT<\/em> yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are talking to Belarus at a technical level and through our allies at a political level,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked whether Lithuania should adjust its policy toward Belarus following a shift in Washington\u2019s approach, including the lifting of potash sanctions, Olekas said that while sanctions and pressure are producing some results, they remain inconclusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vilnius is consulting with allies at both NATO and European Union to achieve the best possible outcome, Olekas added, noting that the ultimate goal is to prevent the regime in Minsk from feeling like a winner and to secure the release of jailed critics. In this situation, neither Lithuania nor other democratic European states can afford to lose, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commenting on yesterday’s statement by Deividas Matulionis, the Lithuanian president\u2019s chief national security advisor, who linked potential transit of Belarusian potash fertilizers to deployment of additional US military forces in the country, Olekas noted that Seimas postponed the adoption of a resolution on the \u201chybrid attacks\u201d from Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The politician said MPs decided to explore various options, stressing that security and economic growth can be achieved not only through a tough stance, but also through diplomacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington announced that it will be lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash fertilizers following the meeting between Aleksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and John Coale, US special envoy to Belarus. Negotiations in Minsk on December 12 and 13 also resulted in the release of 123 designated political prisoners, including prominent opposition figures and politicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two days ago, the US Treasury published the general license<\/a> authorizing transactions involving the Belarusian Potash Company, potash giant Bie\u0142aruskalij and its subsidiary Agrorozkvit LLC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lithuania may resume Belarus\u2019 potash transit after deployment of more US troops \u2013 official<\/h3>\n
December 16, Pozirk. Lithuania may resume transit of Belarusian potash fertilizers after deployment of additional US military forces in the country, LRT reports, citing Deividas Matulionis, the Lithuanian president\u2019s chief national security advisor. Washington is not pressuring Vilnius to take …<\/div>\n \n