The President of Lithuania gave Minsk a month to fulfill the conditions for the resumption of dialogue

Dialogue with the official Minsk is possible only if it shows "goodwill". This was stated by the President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda.

"Should we now, with a record flow of illegal migrants on our border in recent days and constant balloon attacks, ask the neighboring regime for an indulgence for a meeting? On the contrary, I would say we should state very specifically: if there are no balloons, no illegal migrants in the next few weeks, 4 weeks, all political prisoners return safely to Lithuania, and the regime really demonstrates efforts to normalize relations or at least does not create tension for its neighbor, we will consider it as a sign of goodwill, and perhaps we will start such a dialogue," he said.

Speaking about the possibility of resuming the transit of Belarusian fertilizers through Lithuania, Nauseda recalled that restrictions on the transportation of fertilizers are related to the sanctions of the European Union (EU). Therefore, in his opinion, Vilnius should be united with the EU in this matter and not make decisions on its own. At the same time, Nauseda noted that "if the Belarusian regime shows a desire for change and rapprochement with the West, discussions may begin on the need to extend the sanctions imposed against Minsk."

"These twelve months (the duration of the sanctions — EADaily) will pass sooner or later, other positive changes may occur during this time, and the regime has infinitely many opportunities to show that they really want to get closer to the West, that they want to stop being a puppet of Russia in the war with Ukraine — I understand that today such an assumption does not seem very real, but they have such an opportunity to demonstrate — and then we will undoubtedly be the ones who will say, without ignoring the fact, even speaking at the forums of the European Union, that "look, the situation in Belarus is changing, and we can change our policy accordingly," but today I don't see any such prerequisites," Nauseda said.

A few weeks ago, US Special Representative John Cole, who participated in the negotiations in Minsk, announced that Washington was lifting sanctions from two Belarusian banks, as well as from the Ministry of Finance of the republic and fertilizer companies, including Belaruskali. After that, he called on Vilnius to restore relations with Belarus and said that, in his opinion, it is necessary to create conditions for the transportation of Belarusian potash fertilizers through Lithuania.