EU URGES MOSCOW TO USE ITS INFLUENCE TO DE-ESCALATE BORDER CRISIS

Wed 10 November 2021:

According to European Commission spokesperson Dana Spinant, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen believes Moscow should use its influence over Belarus to de-escalate the border conflict.

“The EU commission president said that she thinks that (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin has a strong influence on (Belarusian President Alexander) Lukashenko and we hope … will use this influence to convince Lukashenko that he needs to deescalate the situation,” Spinant said at a briefing.

“I would just repeat the call on Russia on behalf of the EU to use its influence over Belarus, the close links Russia has with Belarus in so many areas to exercise their influence and make Lukashenko to stop this illegal activity,” spokesman Peter Stano added.

Mean while, Poland says it will increase its police presence at the border with Belarus from the current 1,200 to 2,000 officers on Thursday, Internal Affairs Minister Mariusz Kaminski announced.

“As you take part in the independence march (scheduled for Thursday), remember that police officers securing the route will travel to our eastern border right after the event.

A total of 700 police officers from prevention units and 100 counterterrorists will join their 1,200 colleagues who already support the Border Guard,” Kaminski wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.

The migrants, mainly from the middle East, have spent days in freezing temperatures on the border, blocked by rows of Polish border guards behind razor-wire.

Western governments have accused Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko of luring the migrants to his country and sending them to cross over into EU member Poland in retaliation for sanctions.

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