Eastern Europe Considers Iron Curtain With Belarus to Isolate Russia

Ukraine says it's in talks with Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania on closing their borders with Belarus

Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania are in talks with Ukraine to close their borders with Belarus to block supplies that could go into Russia, Newsweek reported on Thursday.

Andrii Deshchytsia, Ukraine’s ambassador in Poland, said Ukrainian officials have held talks with the Polish government on the matter. “We are holding talks with the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure, with the Polish government, in order to completely close the border between Poland and Belarus – even if the decision is not taken at the level of the European Union,” he said.

Deshchytsia said the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have also been involved in negotiations. Estonia doesn’t share a border with Belarus but does neighbor Russia. “We also appealed to these countries so that they simultaneously close their borders with Belarus and Russia,” he said.

“I think that if such a decision is made, it will not be necessary to wait for the decision of the European Union— we will completely block any supplies to Russia,” Deshchytsia added.

Since Russia used Belarus as a platform to launch part of its attack on Ukraine, the US and its European allies have been ramping up sanctions on Belarus. When asked about the potential plan to close the border, a spokesperson for Latvia’s Foreign Ministry told Newsweek, “Further sanctions and restrictive measures against Belarus are being considered.”

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko forged stronger ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin after the US and EU have rejected the results of Belarus’ 2020 presidential elections that gave him another term. The non-recognition of the election has come with sanctions and Western support for Lukashenko’s opposition, driving Belarus closer to Russia.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.