On Tuesday, the Lithuanian government announced that it had decided to introduce a state of emergency throughout the country. This is related to smuggling balloons sent from Belarus. According to data from the Lithuanian Ministry of Internal Affairs, this year there have been approximately 600 cases of violation of its airspace by smuggling balloons from over Belarus and 197 by drones. Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said that these are hybrid attacks and country must 'take the strictest measures'. A few hours after this information appeared, the leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, reacted to it.
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How did Lukashenko react to the state of emergency in Lithuania?
What did Lukashenko say about the war?
What charges did Lukashenko bring against Lithuania?
What did Lukashenko say about Lithuanian trucks?
Lukashenko: Belarus does not need a war
Lukashenko stated at a Security Council meeting that Lithuania's allegations are untrue and that the country's politicians are “fueling and politicizing” the problem. He also said that “Belarus does not need a war”, just like Lithuanians, Poles and Estonians.
– We've had a fight, that's enough. We lost so many people. There are still generations alive who saw this war, he said, quoted by Biełta. However, he added that “Belarus is preparing for this war so that it does not happen” and is ready to talk at the negotiating table at any time. He assured that Belarus is ready to build normal relations in all areas. — We will always reach an agreement with the Lithuanian nation. Same as with Poles. These are our people, he emphasized.
In his speech, Lukashenko also referred to the closing of the Belarusian-Lithuanian border in October. He pointed out that Belarus took care of the Lithuanian trucks that remained on its territory, while in Lithuania Belarusian cars “were left on the side of the road.” “It's unacceptable here,” he said.
