“First of all, the obstruction of our civil aviation must be stopped, our detained vehicles must be returned and, in solidarity with the democratic forces in Belarus, political prisoners held by the regime must be released. We would like to see all of them released,” he told Lietuvos Rytas TV on Friday.
Olekas added that improved economic ties would also depend on an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“If Russia’s aggression in Ukraine were stopped and peace established, then perhaps different economic relations with Belarus would emerge. However, this would require that all of the conditions I mentioned be met,” he said.
Until then, Lithuania and its partners should maintain pressure on President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime, including through sanctions, the Social Democrat veteran said.
“So far, the sanctions regime and its strengthening are working, but not as effectively as we would like,” Olekas said, adding that contacts between the United States and representatives of the Belarusian authorities were also yielding results.
“Violations of our airspace have decreased and [dozens of] political prisoners have been released,” he said.
Olekas stressed the need for European unity ahead of a decision later this month on whether to extend existing sanctions.
In December 2025, US Special Envoy for Belarus John Coale announced that the United States was lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash and said that discussions on sanctions would continue.
Last week, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said there were no discussions on resuming Belarusian fertiliser transit and that European Union sanctions would remain in place until the Minsk regime changed its policies.
Sanctions on Belarusian potash fertilisers were imposed by US President Joe Biden’s administration in 2021, a year after the Belarusian presidential race, in which Alexander Lukashenko declared victory and cracked down on protesters.
At the time, all US individuals and entities were required to complete transactions with the Belarusian potash producer Belaruskali.
The European Union also sanctioned Belarusian fertilisers in 2022.