On November 11, local time, Belarusian President Lukashenko said that if the EU imposes additional sanctions on Belarus, "we must respond."
Lukashenko also mentioned natural gas heating, and Belarus may cut off natural gas supply in response to possible new sanctions.
Lukashenko said that Belarus “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must warn everyone in Europe: If Europe imposes additional sanctions on us, this is incomprehensible and unacceptable to us. We must respond.”
Lukashenko’s warning alarmed the energy market. Natural gas transported to Europe via Belarusian pipelines accounted for about 20% of the European natural gas market.
The situation along the border between Belarus, Poland and Lithuania is becoming increasingly tense.
The EU accuses Belarus of facilitating immigrants and refugees mainly from the Middle East, allowing them to travel to the border areas of EU countries in retaliation for EU sanctions on Minsk.
(Making Yueziyan)
Editor in charge: [Lu Yan]