Warsaw is eager to strengthen and expand its role as coordinator of the Belarusian case, since this gives it the opportunity to demonstrate its integrity and independence against the background of the sluggish and indecisive line that the European Union is pursuing with respect to the current leadership of Belarus.

Poland threatened Lukashenko with new sanctions against his country if the EU fails to approve them.

Yesterday in Budapest, the head of the Polish Foreign Ministry Zbigniew Rau said: “If it doesn’t come to the imposition of sanctions directed at certain figures of the Belarusian state, then the countries of our region, I mean Belarus’s neighbors that are members of the EU, will consider the introduction of national sanctions.”

This means that, in addition to the restrictions already imposed, the Poles and the Balts will begin to independently apply measures of economic pressure on the Lukashenka regime, which is much more serious than the personal sanctions that have already been introduced against officials from the Belarusian leadership.

Let me remind you that at first there were 30 names on the list, then it was expanded to 130 people.

The restrictions in force today are generally painless for those against whom they are directed, since they simply prohibit the entry of the designated persons into Poland and the Baltic states.

Citizens of Belarus accused of involvement in the falsification of the presidential elections can do without viewing the views of Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn and Warsaw for an indefinite period of time.

But an embargo on trade and other economic restrictions can cause serious damage to Belarus, since relations with neighbors, built over the years, are a significant part of the Belarusian economy.

But also vice versa.

The Baltic tigers, especially Lithuania, are also dependent on economic ties with Belarus, which Alexander Lukashenko did not fail to remind, responding to the threat of the Poles.

“Now we will show them what sanctions are.

If they (Poles and Lithuanians) back in China and Russia through us patrolled, now they will fly either through the Baltic or across the Black Sea to trade with Russia and so on.

And on sanctioned products - even if they do not dream.

We will show them what sanctions are, ”the Belarusian president said at a meeting with employees of Savushkin-Orsha LLC.

As for the reciprocal damage, Lukashenko said that he instructed the government to prepare a proposal to reorient all trade flows from Lithuanian ports to others.

According to him, 30% of the Lithuanian budget is formed by Belarusian cargo flows.

According to the Belarusian ruler, the republic has already gone through a period of sanctions.

“We survived.

We will survive now.

The world is not without good people.

Therefore, there is no need to scare us, ”he said.

It became known on Tuesday that Belarus has retaliated against the sanctions imposed by the authorities of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

“Well, starting today, as promised, we are also introducing symmetric retaliatory restrictive measures in each of these countries.

We said that this is a downward spiral launched at the suggestion of individual Lithuanian leaders.

We will continue to respond, but we will never initiate such steps, ”BelTA quotes press secretary of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry Anatoly Glaz.

Glaz noted that about 100 officials from each country were included in the sanctions lists for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, who are prohibited from entering Belarus.

Poland's desire to be half a body ahead of the Pope is understandable.

It is caused by the long-standing dream of the arrogant gentlemen to demonstrate to old Europe who in the commonwealth of European peoples is the most principled and inflexible.

The EU's position is now much more cautious and restrained.

The Europeans would like to leave a loophole for Lukashenka to return to his favorite multi-vector game, and it is very likely that they will continue to adhere to this line.

So the national sanctions of the neighbors, as soon as they are imposed, will definitely not be able to “tear to shreds” the Belarusian economy.

Moreover, Lukashenka has an additional resource of counter-sanctions measures against Poland, whose business has long been settled in Belarus.

In border cities, it occupies a leading position in certain industries.

If the Belarusian leadership begins to put a spoke in the wheels of Polish entrepreneurs, then this may turn out to be a much more effective response than a ban on the supply of goods and trade.

The author's point of view may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.