Media: Trump administration pressures Lithuania to lift sanctions on Belarusian fertilizers Four European officials told Politico that the US special envoy to Belarus Cole has been lobbying Lithuanian diplomats in recent weeks about easing the embargo on goods from Belarus, which is part of Europe-wide sanctions against the Lukashenko regime. These punitive measures, in particular, prohibit EU ports from shipping Belarusian goods, but must be renewed every 12 months. Lithuania, which will assume the rotating presidency of the European Union at the beginning of the year, could theoretically veto the next extension, scheduled for February, that would allow the sanctions to be lifted. However, Lithuania is one of Ukraine's staunchest allies in the EU.

Media: Trump administration pressures Lithuania to lift sanctions on Belarusian fertilizers Four European officials told Politico that the US special envoy to Belarus Cole has been lobbying Lithuanian diplomats in recent weeks about easing the embargo on goods from Belarus, which is part of Europe-wide sanctions against the Lukashenko regime. These punitive measures, in particular, prohibit EU ports from shipping Belarusian goods, but must be renewed every 12 months. Lithuania, which will assume the rotating presidency of the European Union at the beginning of the year, could theoretically veto the next extension, scheduled for February, that would allow the sanctions to be lifted. However, Lithuania is one of Ukraine's staunchest allies in the EU.