“We do not need to close neither the Poles, nor the Russians, nor the Ukrainians. They want to - let them close. We do not need to do this because it is empty. We cannot close anyway, it’s impossible. Especially where there is no border with Russia: there people have walked and will walk for centuries, and if, God forbid, there is already some kind of plague, then we won’t defeat it territorially, ”BelTA quotes Lukashenko.
It is noted that Lukashenko urged the Russian side and the inhabitants of the two countries not to create a panic.
He also noted that Belarus, in response to Russia's decision, would not close the borders, otherwise "before the Kremlin, trucks will be in line, and people will be furious."
Earlier, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that the Russian authorities decided to close the border with Belarus for the movement of people due to the spread of coronavirus infection COVID-19. Lukashenko has responded to this decision.
Russian President’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov called on the Belarusian side to understand the closure of the border.
Lukashenko said he intends to discuss border closure with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.