Putin warns Lukashenko after gas threat: "Talk to him"

The EU is expected to impose new restrictions on Belarus on Monday due to the crisis on the border with Poland.

This led President Lukashenko on Thursday to threaten to cut off gas supplies to the EU.

- While we keep Europe warm, they threaten to close our border.

But what happens if we shut off the gas flow to them?

he said then according to Russian news agencies.

Putin: "He did not say a word"

The gas comes through two gas pipelines that run from Russia, through Belarus and into the EU.

That Lukashenko is now threatening to stifle Russian gas has prompted President Vladimir Putin to act.

"I spoke to him twice recently and he did not say a word about this," Putin said on Russian television.

He continues:

- Theoretically, of course, Lukashenko, as president of a transit country, can give orders to restrict our gas exports to Europe.

But it would be a breach of our contract and I hope it does not happen.

"There is nothing good about this"

Russia and Belarus have long been close allies.

But according to experts that Reuters has spoken to, the statement about the gas may now have irritated Putin.

Energy prices are high on the continent and some European leaders have already raised their voices against Russia, accusing them of not doing enough to increase gas supplies.

- There is nothing good about this, I will of course talk to him.

Maybe he just said it a little hastily, says Vladimir Putin.

Several migrants have died

At the same time, the crisis on the border between Belarus and Poland continues.

Thousands of migrants, mainly from Iraq, Syria and Yemen, are trapped in the forests in the border area.

The EU calls it a hybrid attack and accuses Belarus of deliberately taking them there so that they can enter the EU.

Soldiers guard the border on both sides and in between the migrants, men, women and children sleep in tents.

At least eight of them have been found dead on the Polish side and border, according to the BBC.

How many have died on the Belarus side of the border is unclear.

- We have nowhere to sit, it's too cold.

We collect firewood from the trees to keep warm.

But we continue to hope and do not give up, says a migrant according to the BBC.