Trump Announces Belarus Potash Deal Plan, Lukashenko Disputes Supply

President Donald Trump said on September 21, 2026 that the United States is working on what he described as a massive deal to purchase potash from Belarus, claiming the fertilizer would cost substantially less than what the U.S. currently pays Canada. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called the prospective agreement very good news for our Farmers and Ranchers. The announcement came amid a notable thaw in relations between Washington and Minsk. The Trump administration eased economic restrictions on Belarusian potash exports in December 2025, a move that was followed by the release of more than 100 political prisoners from Belarus, including prominent opposition figures Maria Kalesnikava and Viktor Babaryka. In March 2026, U.S. envoy John Coale said a broader deal with Minsk could include further sanctions relief and the restoration of diplomatic relations. However, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko appeared to contradict the U.S. president's statement the same day. Even if we wanted to supply potash to other destinations, to Western markets, we simply do not have the volumes for that, all of it has already been sold under contract, Lukashenko told reporters.