Trump: US working on deal to buy potash fertiliser from Belarus

US President Donald Trump has said Washington is working on a "massive deal" to purchase potash fertiliser from Belarus.

Trump announced on Truth Social that the US is working on a deal to purchase potash fertiliser from Belarus, saying it would cost less than buying from Canada.

"The United States is working on a massive Deal with respect to the purchase of Potash from Belarus. The pricing would be for substantially less than we are currently paying to Canada, very good news for our Farmers and Ranchers," he wrote.

In March, the Trump administration lifted sanctions on two Belarusian potash fertiliser manufacturers – Belarusian Potash Company and Belaruskali – in exchange for the release of a group of political prisoners by the regime of self-proclaimed President Alexander Lukashenko.

In May, it was reported that the US was pressuring Ukraine to lift restrictions on Belarusian fertiliser – an important source of funding for the regime.

On 16 September, US Special Envoy for Belarus John Coale announced during a visit to Minsk that 25 Belarusian political prisoners had been released.

In exchange for the political prisoners' release, the US lifted sanctions on two other Belarusian companies, Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom.