Lukashenko declares Belarus' readiness for negotiations with Lithuania
Belarus is ready to negotiate with Lithuania on problematic issues at the level of diplomats, border guards and prime ministers. This was announced by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on December 19.
"They say they are already ready to talk at the level of deputy ministers in foreign affairs. You're welcome. Do you want to talk to the border guards? We don't forbid it, you talk to them almost every day. Well, there are some issues, they need to be resolved with [Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim] Ryzhenkov, and maybe with the prime minister," Lukashenko said, BelTA news agency reports.
The Belarusian Foreign Ministry protested to Lithuania on December 1 in connection with the violation of airspace by a Lithuanian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The Ministry regarded the border violation as a provocation by Lithuania directed against Minsk and Warsaw.
Ryzhenkov accused Lithuania on December 7 of provocation on the Belarusian border in order to receive financial assistance from the European Union (EU). He clarified that information has emerged that the EU is ready to allocate more than €6 billion to Lithuania, but this money will not be used to develop infrastructure or social projects, but to create barriers and weapons. However, in his opinion, the Lithuanian military does not know how to use these funds effectively.
EC President Ursula von der Leyen said on December 1 that the EU was preparing new restrictive measures against Belarus due to the alleged penetration of weather balloons into Lithuanian airspace. Von der Leyen stressed that the union "expresses solidarity to Lithuania." On December 9, the Lithuanian authorities declared a state of emergency in the country. The reason for this was the interception of balloons with a cargo of contraband cigarettes arriving from the Belarusian territory.
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