November 13, Pozirk. Vilnius will open the shared border with Belarus as soon as it receives assurances from Minsk that balloon incursions are under control, Delfi reports, citing Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė.
In late October, the Lithuanian government suspended traffic at the shared border with Belarus until November 30 after multiple airspace violations by cigarette-smuggling balloons. Vilnius described the incursions as hybrid attacks.
“We are not negotiating [with Minsk]. We are sending a clear signal that the borders are closed due to recent hybrid attacks,” Ruginienė said today. All available diplomatic channels are used to resolve the crisis at the Lithuanian-Belarusian border, she added.
Yesterday, Ruginienė confirmed receiving an official proposal from Minsk to hold talks on settling border issues. Vilnius will review the proposal and make decisions, she said.
