Vilnius retreats: Lithuania is ready to open the border with Belarus until December

Lithuania could open the border with Belarus earlier than November 30. This was announced today, November 17, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the republic Kastutis Budris.

"I think we should be guided by the same reasons and parameters that led to these decisions. I think this should be considered," he said about the possibility of such a decision.

According to him, Lithuania is monitoring the situation with weather balloons, "what is happening in the sky and on the ground."

"Our task here is not and has never been... to achieve anything by a certain date or any even higher goals. We are trying to prevent hybrid attacks against us so that the regime changes its behavior," the minister said.

The words of the Lithuanian Foreign Minister were indirectly confirmed by the adviser to the Prime Minister Ignas Dobrovolskas.

"I cannot confirm that the border with Belarus will be opened this week. Decisions will be made taking into account the actions of the Belarusian authorities and the situation with weather balloons. If it becomes clear that the situation allows it, the borders can be opened earlier than planned," he said.

Lithuania unilaterally closed the border with Belarus at the end of October, allegedly because of balloons with contraband cigarettes. This dealt a serious blow to the transport industry of the Baltic Republic.