Exclusive: Trump envoy's push to reopen Lithuanian ports to Belarus exposes rift in Washington

The Trump administration's push to reopen Lithuanian ports to Belarusian potash exports is being driven by U.S. envoy John Coale and does not reflect a broader policy shift in Washington, multiple U.S. and European officials told the Kyiv Independent.

The initiative has little support within the administration, with U.S. officials describing it as Coale acting independently rather than advancing an agreed government policy.

Lithuania, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, also has no plans to change its position on allowing Belarusian potash exports through its territory, according to two officials familiar with the matter.

Belarus, a close Russian ally, was once among the world's leading potash suppliers. Potash is a key component in agricultural fertilizer production, making Belarusian exports commercially important.

The U.S., U.K., EU, and Canada imposed sanctions on Belarusian potash after Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko's regime violently cracked down on pro-democracy protesters in 2020, following an election widely viewed as having been stolen by Lukashenko.

The latest push comes as the Trump administration seeks alternatives to Canadian imports, which previously accounted for around 80% of U.S. potash supplies.

In December 2025, Washington announced lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash producers.

But removing U.S. sanctions does not automatically allow Belarusian exports to reach European markets. EU sanctions currently prohibit member states from trading in Belarusian goods, and the bloc must renew those measures every 12 months through unanimous agreement.

Lithuania could theoretically block a renewal, potentially opening the way for future Belarusian exports through its territory. But the Lithuanian government has no plans to do so, the Kyiv Independent understands.

Lithuania rejects, US officials distance themselves

A European official familiar with Lithuania's position told the Kyiv Independent that the initiative to allow Belarusian potash exports through the country's ports was coming solely from Coale.

"The position has not changed," the official said, adding that the EU's broader stance on Belarusian potash exports had also remained the same.

The U.S. State Department "has never raised this" with Lithuania, according to the official.

An U.S. government official similarly described the proposal as Coale "freelancing," saying neither the State Department nor the wider administration was pursuing the policy.

Several U.S. officials who spoke to the Kyiv Independent expressed frustration with what they described as competing and poorly coordinated foreign policy initiatives within the Trump administration.

One American official described U.S. policy as "schizophrenic," saying career diplomats at the State Department were often unaware of initiatives advanced independently by Coale and Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff.

White House officials, however, defended the decision to lift sanctions on Belarusian potash producers, linking it to what they described as progress in relations with Minsk.

"The United States imports potash from several suppliers. The U.S. looks for commercial opportunities that serve American economic interests, and we discuss commercial prospects with allies and partners regularly," a Trump administration official told the Kyiv Independent.

The official said the decision to lift sanctions on Belarusian potash producers reflected "Belarus's recent constructive engagement with the United States and continued release of political prisoners."

"We won't get into specific commercial transactions," the official said.

Coale did not respond to multiple requests for comment.