Lukashenko using potash leverage to extract more from US, says Belarusian diplomat

Comments by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko regarding the availability of potash fertilizer for shipment to the United States do not signal a rejection of a potential agreement with Washington, according to an ambassador-at-large at Belarus's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ukrinform reported.

Instead, the official said, Lukashenko's remarks are more likely a negotiating tactic, using uncertainty over supply as leverage in ongoing discussions with the United States.

Belarus is one of the world's largest producers of potash, a key ingredient in fertilizer, and the commodity has featured prominently in discussions between Minsk and Washington in recent years, including in the context of sanctions-related negotiations.

Ukrinform's report did not specify further details of the potential agreement under discussion or a timeline for talks to conclude. Lukashenko, who has led Belarus since 1994, is referred to by Ukrainian state media as the country's "self-proclaimed president," reflecting Kyiv's position on the legitimacy of his rule following disputed elections.

The remarks add to a series of statements from Minsk in recent months regarding potential economic engagement with Washington amid broader geopolitical tensions in the region.