{"id":164592,"date":"2025-11-18T14:32:57","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T11:32:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/164592\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"lithuanian-diplomat-calls-on-eu-to-tighten-sanctions-against-belarus","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/164592\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuanian diplomat calls on EU to tighten sanctions against Belarus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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November 18, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Lithuania’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sigitas Mitkus called for tougher European Union sanctions against Belarus at yesterday’s meeting of the EU General Affairs Council, the Lithuanian foreign ministry reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Violations of Lithuanian airspace by cigarette-smuggling balloons launched from Belarus should be considered a \u201cdeliberate hybrid operation,\u201d Mitkus noted at the event that took place ahead of the European Council meeting scheduled for next month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus must immediately allow EU-registered trucks to return, he added, referring to more than 1,260 Lithuanian trucks that Minsk banned from leaving following the border closure by Vilnius on October 29.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian authorities\u2019 actions are unacceptable as they discriminate against EU companies and cause financial losses, the official noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tensions between Belarus and Lithuania over cigarette-smuggling balloons have been rising since mid-October, forcing Lithuanian authorities to briefly close the border on several occasions and suspend operations at Vilnius Airport, located close to the Belarusian border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In late October, the Lithuanian government ruled to keep the shared border with Belarus closed until November 30 following numerous airspace violations. The closure may be extended, Vilnius warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, earlier today, Remigijus Motuzas, in charge of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs, said that Vilnius may reopen the shared border with Belarus ahead of November 30, citing international supply chain disruptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yesterday, Lithuanian Foreign Minister K\u0119stutis Budrys also hinted at the possibility of an earlier border reopening. He emphasized that while Vilnius had no specific date in mind, the priority remained preventing hybrid attacks and pressuring Minsk to change its behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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