The self-proclaimed President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, promised John Cole, the U.S. special envoy for Belarus, to stop flights of meteorological balloons from his country to Lithuania. The remarks were made during a discussion between the American diplomatic representative and officials from the United States.
«He agreed to do everything possible to stop the flights of weather balloons»
– John Cole
According to the American diplomat, Lukashenko aims to strengthen good relations with his neighbors and sincerely seeks to find a path to resolve the crisis.
«I think it will take time, but I believe this can be resolved. He wants normal relations with his neighbors, and he assured me of this»
– The U.S. special envoy
Cole added that Lithuania has already made considerable efforts to stop the flow of smuggled goods across the border, and therefore both countries are working together to resolve the disputed issues.
Balloons used by middlemen to transport cigarettes from Belarus to Lithuania have in recent months caused the closure of more than ten Lithuanian airports and significant disruptions to air traffic in the neighboring country.
Vilnius accused Minsk of facilitating this illegal business and regards the actions as a hybrid attack on Lithuania. As a result, a state of emergency has been declared on the border with Belarus, and border units in the direction toward Belarus have been strengthened.
Meanwhile, Lukashenko continues to assure the world that Lithuania is overstating the scale of the problem and is fueling panic around the situation.
According to Lithuanian diplomatic colleagues, the government plans to decide soon on blocking certain connections tied to air-route smuggling.
The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry stated full solidarity with Ukraine and readiness to share experience in response to the crisis, particularly in the area of technological solutions and border security.
Context of the events and future steps
This balloon incident underscores the urgent need for coordination between the Baltic states and the EU to defend airspace, combat smuggling, and address hybrid threats. Lithuania’s response and EU support demonstrate readiness for joint action and continued dialogue with Minsk for regional stability.