Prime Ministers see no reason to ease sanctions on Belarus
Translated from Lithuanian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
- Lithuanian and Estonian Prime Ministers agree there is no reason to relax sanctions against Belarus due to its continued negative actions.
- They cited Belarus's use of migrants and smuggling as ongoing issues impacting Lithuania.
- The Prime Ministers emphasized that sanctions are a collective European decision, not solely a Lithuanian policy, and noted Belarus's dependence on Russia.
The Prime Ministers of Lithuania and Estonia have declared that there is no justification for easing sanctions imposed on Belarus. Both leaders stated that Belarus's behavior has not changed, and it continues to act against Lithuania's interests.
Specific actions cited include Belarus's alleged use of migrants as a tool and its involvement in smuggling activities, which have prompted Lithuania to enhance its border security with fences and surveillance systems. Despite these measures, the problems persist, according to the prime ministers.
Furthermore, the leaders stressed that the sanctions against Belarus are a collective decision of the entire European Union, not merely a unilateral policy of Lithuania. The Estonian Prime Minister also pointed out Belarus's lack of independence from Russia, characterizing it as remaining firmly on Russia's side.
These statements reinforce the unified stance of several European nations regarding Belarus, highlighting ongoing concerns about its domestic policies and its role in regional security and migration issues.
Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.