Фото: МИД Литвы
Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys, during a meeting with opposition MPs in the Seimas, described the sanction proposals his ministry is promoting in the European Union in connection with smugglers’ meteorological balloons crossing from Belarus.
According to him, the Lithuanian side insists on expanding restrictions in the aviation sector.
“Belarusian aircraft cannot currently fly in the European Union, but they can be registered outside Belarus. We want to restrict not only aircraft registered in Belarus, but also aircraft belonging to Belarusian individuals,” Budrys was quoted as saying by BNS.
The Lithuanian side also proposes adding nitrogen fertilizers, rapeseed oil, salt, and several other product categories to the sanctions list. It should be recalled that at the moment, only a decision to increase tariffs on nitrogen fertilizers has been adopted.
Budrys also proposes introducing a ban on investments in Belarusian free economic zones and restricting the provision of services to Belarusian companies.
“EU companies provide legal services, auditing services, IT consulting, artificial intelligence services, and others. We want all of them to fall under EU sanctions. Including tourism services — however strange that may sound in this geopolitical context,” he said.
Budrys added that Lithuania intends to seek recognition of hybrid activities and hybrid threats — which it applies to smugglers’ meteorological balloons — as criteria for imposing sanctions. Another direction in diplomatic work is pushing NATO to classify smugglers’ balloon launches as hybrid activity directed against Lithuania.