"Too many began to scare us": Lukashenka threatened to block the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline in response to EU sanctions

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko called on the EU countries to think about possible retaliatory measures that may follow the introduction of new sanctions by Brussels.

He stated this on Thursday, November 11, at a meeting with the leadership of the Council of Ministers of the republic.

“Too many people began to frighten us with the fifth package (of sanctions. -

) ... And if we close the transit through Belarus?

It will not pass through Ukraine: the Russian border is closed there.

There are no roads through the Baltics.

If we close it for the Poles and, for example, for the Germans, what will happen then? "

- he said.

The head of state also recalled that the transnational main export gas pipeline Yamal - Europe runs through Belarus.

“We are heating Europe - they are still threatening us that they will close the border.

And if we turn off natural gas there?

Therefore, I would recommend that the Polish leadership, Lithuanians and other headless people think before speaking, ”Lukashenka said.

According to him, Belarus will have to answer if unacceptable sanctions are introduced against it.

Against this background, the price of December gas futures in Europe by the close of trading on the London ICE stock exchange rose by more than 7% and approached $ 900 per thousand cubic meters.

Commenting on this statement, European Economic Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said that the European Union will not allow Lukashenka to intimidate himself with threats to cut off the transit of blue fuel.

“In matters of gas supplies, we must make the most of our relations with the supplying countries - African states, Norway, Russia, and we will not allow Lukashenka to intimidate us with his threats,” TASS quotes him.

Also on russian.rt.com France announced that Russia was not involved in the migration crisis on the border of Belarus

In turn, Acting German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that the EU should develop a solidarity approach to the current migration crisis.

He blamed the current situation on Lukashenka "and his assistants in Minsk."

“We are in a situation where it would be emotionally appropriate to scold Lukashenka, but this is not enough, we are in a situation when the time has come to draw the right conclusions.

We want to do this, ”Maas said.

Let us remind you that on November 8, Poland, Lithuania and Belarus reported an aggravation of the situation at the border due to the flow of illegal migrants who arrived from the Belarusian territory.

Warsaw and Vilnius sent troops to the border to contain refugees who were trying to break into Polish territory.

Later, Poland closed the Kuznitsa checkpoint on the border with Belarus.

This situation has already been discussed twice by telephone by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Acting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The leaders expressed concern over the humanitarian consequences of the migration crisis, the Kremlin said on November 10.

At the same time, Putin proposed to establish a discussion of the problems that have arisen in direct contacts of representatives of the EU member states with Minsk.

Merkel said that she had asked the Russian president to influence the Belarusian leader.

On November 11, the parties reaffirmed the importance of an early settlement of the crisis that has arisen in accordance with international humanitarian standards.

“Vladimir Putin spoke in favor of restoring contacts between the EU states and Belarus in order to solve this problem,” the Kremlin said.

In turn, Alexander Lukashenko announced a dangerous trend against the background of the migration crisis.

According to him, they are trying to transfer weapons and ammunition to the refugee camp near the Polish border in order to provoke a conflict.

The President also instructed the Ministry of Defense, the KGB and border troops to monitor the movement of NATO and Polish troops.

“You can see that 15 thousand already military personnel, tanks, armored vehicles, helicopters flew with airplanes.

They pulled up to our border, moreover, insolently, without warning anyone, ”BelTA quotes the head of state.

Lukashenko also said that he had asked Russia to join the watch on the borders of the Union State.

According to him, it is necessary to constantly monitor the situation at the border.