Lithuanian PM Ensures Poland Delays Opening Borders With Belarus

Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk/DOK Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybmen/Government of Lithuania

JAKARTA - Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said her Polish partner, Donald Tusk, agreed to postpone the reopening of the Polish border with Belarus.

The two leaders spoke on Wednesday and agreed to coordinate their actions regarding Belarus' border crossings.

Lithuania, a member state of NATO and the European Union, this week closed its land borders with Belarus until the end of November in response to the smuggling of balloons crossing the border from Belarus.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said the closure of the border with Belarus by Lithuania was a "crazy fraud" and accused Vilnius of carrying out a hybrid war that threatens China's economy.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said on Monday her country would start shooting down balloon smugglers crossing the border from Belarus, which has repeatedly disrupted the Baltic country's air traffic.

Belarus' state news agency, BETTA, quoted Lukashenko as saying Lithuania "proposes a absurd reason, these balloons, even for small countries like Lithuania."

Lithuania and Belarus have long clashed over Vilnius who provided shelter for members of the exiled Belarusian opposition.

BETA also quoted Lukashenko as saying the deployment of Russia's Orestnik missile system in Belarus was not an aggressive move and aimed at ensuring security.

Russia and Belarus are not interested in escalation of tensions with Europe, Lukashenko said.