US lifts sanctions against Belaruskali director Andrei Rybakou

The US has suspended sanctions against Andrei Rybakou, director of the Belaruskali (Belarusian Potash Company). He had been under sanctions since December 2024 — Rybakou was added to the sanctions lists immediately after being appointed general director of the company.

The US lifted sanctions on Belarusian potash in December 2025, however Lukashenka's main demand — the possibility of transit through Klaipėda — has not yet been met due to Lithuania's position. This autumn, Belarus sent potash fertilisers to the US for the first time in many years — around 30,000 tonnes. They were shipped via Russian ports.

The most recent negotiations by Trump's envoy John Coale in September resulted in the release of only 15 political prisoners, despite earlier reports of several hundred people. The deal fell through due to Lukashenka's dissatisfaction with the concessions made by the Americans (and possibly the absence of concessions from the Europeans). After the talks, Coale said he would fly to Minsk again in a month — that is, in October.