Politics

Belarus threatens to cut off gas supply as EU prepares new sanctions

Brussels, Nov 11 (EFE).- Thousands of migrants on Thursday were trapped at the Belarus border with Poland enduring harsh weather conditions as the European Union is preparing a new package of sanctions on Belarus.

Polish guard services reported 468 new crossing attempts of the border in the last 24 hours.

Some 15,000 Polish guards have been deployed to the border to stop migrants from entering the EU, according to Polish authorities.

The EU and Western allies accuse Belarusian authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko of a “hybrid attack” on the bloc by encouraging migrants to cross the border as revenge on existing EU sanctions over human rights abuses.

In response to the fresh sanctions proposed by the EU, Lukashenko has threatened to cut gas supply to the European continent, raising new concerns about the supply and high prices of gas in Europe.

The Yamal-Europe pipeline that carries Russian natural gas to Germany passes through Belarus.

“We are heating Europe, they are still threatening us that they will close the border. And if we shut off natural gas there? Therefore, I would recommend that the Polish leadership, Lithuanians and other headless people think before speaking,” Lukashenko said.

Belarusian authorities escorted some 2,000 migrants to the border with Poland on Tuesday after which Poland declared a state of emergency and sealed the border.

Lukashenko denies manufacturing the migration crisis.EFE

cae-bsi/mp/mg

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