WASHINGTON, September 29. /TASS/. The potential new arrangements between Washington and Minsk on potash fertilizer supplies may require consultations with Russia as regards their deliveries, US special envoy for Belarus John Coale told The Atlantic.
"If the West is buying potash, then they’ve got to deal with the Russians and the Belarusians. So you’re sitting down at a table, and you’re haggling over price or finding the routes to get it out," Coale told the news outlet. "When people talk, it’s a good thing," he noted, adding that this will facilitate normalization of ties.
US President Donald Trump earlier nominated Coale to the position of his special envoy for affairs of hostages. Senators should approve his candidacy for appointment.
"The discussions also involve Russia," the news outlet said, citing the special envoy in respect of discussing the possibility of potash fertilizer deliveries from Belarus to the United States. "European countries have not agreed to ease their own sanctions on Belarus, and they have refused to allow the transport of potash from Belarus across their territory. That means it would most likely need to move eastward through Russia before reaching international markets, making the Kremlin a party to the deal," The Atlantic added.