Ukraine rejected any easing of sanctions on Belarusian potash producer Belaruskali, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said during a joint press conference with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Kyiv on Monday, May 25. Responding to questions about reports that international partners are pressuring Ukraine to soften restrictions on Belarusian fertilizers, Sybiha said Kyiv remains firmly opposed to any sanctions relief.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “We reject any approaches related to easing pressure on the aggressor,” Sybiha said, according to Ukrinform. “On the contrary, the pressure must be strengthened.” Sybiha added that Ukraine had received proposals from the Belarusian democratic opposition regarding possible new sanctions measures. The minister declined to directly comment on media reports suggesting the United States was among the countries encouraging Kyiv to reconsider restrictions on Belarusian potash exports. However, he argued that lifting sanctions would not change Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko’s support for Russia. “There should be no illusions that any easing will pull Belarus away from Russia’s sphere of influence,” Sybiha said. “It will not work. The regime is too deeply integrated with Russia.” Earlier reports said the United States was pressuring Ukraine to ease restrictions on Belarusian fertilizer exports, which remain an important source of revenue for the Lukashenko regime.