Lukashenko: Minsk does not seek conflict with Poland, which could lead to war

Belarus does not want a conflict with Poland, but is waiting for a response from Brussels on whether the European Union will accept 2,000 migrants trapped on the Belarusian border, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko was quoted as saying by the Belta news agency.

Mr Lukashenko also said Belarus would ask Germany to welcome migrants, adding that the European Union had not contacted Minsk on the issue.

The European Union (EU) has accused Belarus of gathering thousands of people from the Middle East to cross the border into Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, forcing them to cross into European Union in response to European sanctions against Minsk. suppression of the opposition movement.

Alexander Lukashenko also said he did not seek a conflict with Poland, which could “lead to war”, the Belarusian news agency Belta reported.

“We have to reach out to the Poles, to every Pole, and show them that we are not barbarians, that we do not want conflict. We do not need it. Because we understand that, if things go too far, war is inevitable,” he said. . “And that would be a disaster. We understand that very well. We do not want any kind of ignition.”

He also warned that Poland would consider the consequences of implementing its threat to close the railway crossing with Belarus, saying that in that case, train traffic would be diverted to pass through the Donbas war zone in eastern Ukraine.

Polish Prime Minister Matthew Morawiecki warned yesterday that the immigration crisis on the border with Belarus could be a prelude to something worse, while, according to Polish border guards, Belarusian forces continue to transport migrants to the border.

SOURCE: AMPE