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The EU are ‘stinkers’– Lukashenko Lukashenko slams ‘stinky EU’
(about 1 hour later)
The Belarusian leader slammed the EU for preventing Ukrainian grain from reaching global markets Belarusian leader accuses Brussels of blocking grain exports to Africa and praises Trump’s plan to bypass the bloc
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko blasted the EU for blocking Ukrainian grain exports, while praising the US for twisting Brussels’ arm. He accused the bloc of halting shipments to shield its own markets and suggested that Minsk should be given oversight powers to ensure Africa-bound grain stays out of Europe. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has accused the “stinky” European Union of deliberately obstructing Ukrainian grain exports and suggested that Minsk should take control of the transit routes to ensure deliveries reach developing countries.
In an interview with Time magazine released on Friday, Lukashenko accused the EU of standing in the way of Russian and US efforts to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative. In an interview with Time magazine published on Friday, Lukashenko claimed the EU was blocking efforts by the US and Russia to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative and redirect shipments through overland routes.
The original deal, brokered by the UN and Türkiye in July 2022, was aimed at ensuring safe passage for Ukrainian grain exports in exchange for lifting restrictions on Russian food and fertilizer trade. Moscow pulled out in 2023, accusing the West of failing to uphold its part of the bargain. ”They [the EU] don’t want that, those stinkers,” Lukashenko said, alleging the bloc was “afraid the grain will end up on the [Western] European market.”
Earlier this year, American and Russian officials agreed to reboot the initiative as part of a broader effort to settle the Ukraine conflict. Lukashenko insisted that sea routes through the Black Sea remain unsafe due to naval mines near the port of Odessa and praised a proposal by US President Donald Trump to ship grain overland via Poland or Germany. However, he insisted that Belarus should oversee the process instead.
Lukashenko said Black Sea navigation remains unsafe due to mines near Ukraine’s Port of Odessa. Noting that US President Donald Trump has proposed routing grain shipments through Poland or German ports instead, the Belarusian president asserted, “On the contrary, it is necessary to involve Belarus in this process, so no grain is transported through stinky Europe.” “On the contrary, it is necessary to involve Belarus in this process, so no grain is transported through the stinky EU,” he said.
“Did they [the EU] let it through? No – they’re afraid the grain will end up on the European market,” he said, adding that “Trump is right to lean on” the bloc. Lukashenko also claimed Minsk could provide “full control” over shipments, guaranteeing that grain intended for Africa would not be diverted to Western Europe.
He argued that the overland route was the only viable option but noted that the EU was deliberately obstructing it. Belarus could provide “full control” and guarantee that not a single speck of grain intended for Africa would end up in the EU, he asserted, stressing that the EU “don’t want that, those stinkers,” Lukashenko emphasized. The original grain deal, brokered in July 2022 by the UN and Türkiye, collapsed in 2023 after Moscow accused Western powers of failing to uphold their side of the agreement, particularly on Russian fertilizer and food exports.
In March, the EU rejected Moscow’s demand to lift sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank as part of a ceasefire initiative discussed between Moscow and Washington. The Kremlin said the move showed the bloc’s reluctance to end the Ukraine conflict. Washington and Moscow have since held discussions about reviving the agreement under new terms, including rerouting shipments through alternative corridors.
The EU initially scrapped tariffs on Ukrainian agricultural exports after the conflict escalated in 2022, but reimposed restrictions after the imports flooded Eastern European markets, sparking widespread farmer protests. In March, the EU rejected Russian demands to lift sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank, a key condition for Moscow’s return to the deal. The Kremlin said the refusal demonstrated the bloc’s unwillingness to help end the Ukraine conflict
Lukashenko, who has led Belarus since 1994, has positioned himself as a mediator and transit partner in ongoing regional negotiations.