Lukashenko dampens Trump's hopes for Belarusian potash
“Even if we wanted to supply (potash) to Western markets, we simply do not have those volumes — everything is contracted," Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko said.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko dampened U.S. hopes for a large-scale potash deal from Minsk on September 21, stating that the country lacks the necessary potash volumes to meet American demands. This came after U.S. President Donald Trump had announced preparations for a massive potash deal with Belarus on social media, touting it as a cheaper alternative to Canadian supplies.
The U.S. had lifted economic restrictions on Belarusian potash exports in December 2025, in exchange for the release of over 100 political prisoners, as part of a broader improvement in U.S.-Belarusian relations. However, Lukashenko had previously claimed in September 11 that Belarus had begun selling potash to the U.S., while warning that a significant increase in exports remains impossible due to already contracted supplies for the current year.
Canada and Belarus are the world's leading exporters of potash, with the fertilizer being a crucial export commodity for Minsk. Reports suggested in spring 2026 that the U.S. was seeking transit routes for Belarusian fertilizers through Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine. Belarus, a landlocked nation situated between Ukraine, Russia, and NATO's eastern members, has served as a vital ally of Russia during the ongoing conflict, permitting Russian forces to utilize its territory for launching attacks on Ukraine in 2022.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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