Lithuania Issued An Ultimatum To The Belarusian Regime
- 12.11.2025, 10:51
Vilnius has enlisted Washington's support.
The Lithuanian authorities say that the border with Belarus will remain closed until Minsk stops the "hybrid attack". At the same time, Foreign Minister Kiastutis Budrys has enlisted the support of the United States, writes The Telegraph.
After the visit of Lithuanian foreign ministers to the United States, the Lithuanian government toughened its rhetoric against the Belarusian authorities, giving Minsk an ultimatum to unblock the border, where hundreds of trucks are stuck. While Prime Minister Inga Ruginenė reported receiving "positive signals," Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys excluded the possibility of negotiations until Belarus takes control of the smugglers and their balloons.
The trigger for the crisis was Lithuania's decision to close two key border crossing points - Miadininkai and Šalčininkai - until November 30. The authorities explained this step by the need to counter a hybrid attack from Minsk, including the launch of smuggled balloons and interference with air traffic.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginenė said in an interview with LRT radio that Vilnius is ready to open the border for the return of blocked Lithuanian trucks, but accused Minsk of lack of goodwill. At the same time, she noted that there are some positive developments.
"Belarus does not show any goodwill in this matter, and this shows that the situation is quite tense. We are working on it, you can see that the rhetoric of Belarus is changing... It shows that Lithuania is receiving these positive signals, but there is still a lot of work to be done," the Prime Minister said.
Budris has secured Washington's support
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys expressed himself in a much tougher manner, in fact, voicing an ultimatum to Belarus.
In a broadcast on the same LRT radio, he said that the authorities in Minsk, having announced their readiness for negotiations, are trying to bring discord to the position of the Lithuanian authorities. He emphasized that there is no question of negotiations with Minsk.
He said that the border will be opened only after the smuggling balloons stop flying to Lithuania. The Lithuanian Foreign Minister accused the Belarusian authorities of "readiness for escalation up to the hot phase."
He said that Lithuania had the support of the United States in this matter. And after meetings in Washington with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the U.S. side is "engaged in this topic." Budrys also warned that Lithuania has a "list of response measures".