{"id":165414,"date":"2025-11-24T14:28:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T11:28:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/165414\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"lithuanias-fm-calls-for-new-eu-sanctions-amid-combined-attack-from-belarus","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/165414\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuania\u2019s FM calls for new EU sanctions amid \u201ccombined attack\u201d from Belarus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n \"\"\n
\n \n
\n (Pozirk)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

November 24, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Airspace incursions by weather balloons and the seizure of Lithuanian trucks are part of a “combined attack” by Belarus, Lithuanian Foreign Minister K\u0119stutis Budrys has said ahead of the European Union\u2019s Foreign Affairs Council on Trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cigarette-smuggling balloons launched from Belarus disrupt civil aviation flights in Lithuania, while the seizure of trucks affects the Lithuanian economy, he noted, calling for more EU sanctions against the Belarusian authorities.<\/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

Vilnius kept the Medininkai\u2013Kamienny \u0141oh and \u0160al\u010dininkai\u2013Bieniakoni checkpoints at the shared border with Belarus closed from October 29 to November 20 over the incursions. Last week, Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginien\u0117 said that Lithuania might close the border again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, more than 1,260 Lithuania-registered trucks remain stranded in Belarus, and as of this morning, there was no information about their return. Minsk barred these cargo vehicles from leaving the country and ordered them moved to guarded parking sites. Vilnius, in turn, accused Belarus of escalation by seizing the vehicles and preventing their return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three days ago, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned a Belarusian diplomat to hand a note of protest over \u201cdiscriminatory actions against the Lithuanian carriers.\u201d The refusal to release Lithuanian trucks from Belarusian territory represents a \u201cdeliberate seizure of property and a gross violation of universally recognized norms of international law,\u201d Vilnius stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"