Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals, Reporting by Alan Charlish, Anna Koper, Editing by William Maclean, Ukrainian defenders oust Russian forces from some positions in Bakhmut - Ukraine general, US believes Russians in Ukraine have suffered 100,000 casualties in 5 months, Britain's Cleverly expects to meet Chinese vice president this week, French police clash with black-clad anarchists during May Day rallies, Schumer sets expedited process to consider clean debt ceiling suspension, British royals release photo of a beaming Princess Charlotte, Normalising China-Australia trade will take more than a political fix, Protests in Paraguay as losing candidates calls for recount, Australia to pay soldiers bonus to stay as strategic risks rise. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council in Minsk, Belarus April 7, 2022. The potential threats from Belarus have prompted Ukraine to keep a defensive line along the shared Belarus-Ukraine border, Kostenko said. Last month Ukrainian forces pushed Russia out of several territories it had seized in the northeast and south of the country. Kadyrov himself threatened Poland on. Poland is also hosting the Belarusian news channel Nexta, which has played a key part in organizing the protests. Ms Tsikhanouskaya was speaking as she arrived in Ireland to collect the Tipperary International Peace Award. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. "We recommend that Polish citizens staying on the territory of the Republic of Belarus leave its territory with available commercial and private means," the government said in guidance for travellers published on its website. Thousands of others were already spread out across the border region in much smaller groups, playing a cat and mouse game with Polish border officials. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. Kadyrov himself threatened Poland on multiple occasions last year. He also reiterated that Belarus is committed to being a union state with Russia. "With the closure of another Polish checkpoint, the situation will become catastrophic," it added, pointing to existing long lines at border crossings. Now in Ukraine, its fate is being decided on the battlefield. Relations were further strained on Wednesday when a Belarusian court sentenced a journalist of Polish origin to eight years in prison in a trial Warsaw said was politically motivated. Angered by this posturing, Lukashenko claimed that Belarus had closed its EU borders and had deployed additional guards and troops. And the EU appears to be balancing its humanitarian values against its political considerations, including a difficult relationship with Poland. Lukashenko noted that not only tactical but also strategic nuclear weapons may be a part of Belarus arsenal. It cannot be ruled out that they will make another dash from there in the north, Kostenko, who is Secretary of Ukraines Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, said in an interview Ukrinform published this week. Ukraine's Zelenskyy inspects frontier with Belarus and Poland The Morawiecki government has promised to give 11 million euros to Belarusian civil society and independent media. Freight traffic for Belarusian vehicles at the Kukuryki-Kozlowicze border crossing will be suspended as of 7 p.m. Tuesday, the Polish Interior Ministry said on Monday. Kadyrov, the head of Chechnya, suggested Monday that Russia should denazify and demilitarize Poland next. Discovery Company. Police deployed chemical sprays to push people back. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. A standoff ensued between both armies, border guards and refugees caught in between. Did you encounter any technical issues? Jaap Arriens / AFP. The warning comes just as Ukrainian forces prepare for possible attacks from Belarus. Our converted planes can also carry a nuclear warhead. They joined the United Nations together in October 1945 as original members. "We will. Belarus previously updated its constitution in February of last year, at the outset of Russias invasion into Ukraine, to allow for nuclear weapons in its territory. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry could not immediately be reached for comment on Monday about the latest moves. Any ceasefire will mean [the Russian Federations] right to stay in the occupied territories. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Poland Seizes Russian High School Building in Warsaw According to the government, nearly 30,000 attempted border crossings have taken place this year, including 17,000 in October. Poland said on Thursday, citing security concerns, it would close a key border crossing into Belarus at Bobrowniki, starting at 12 p.m. (1100 GMT) on Friday, driving already hostile relations between the two countries to a new low. The Polish government has allotted a villa in the Praga-Poudnie district of Warsaw for 10 years to be used by the Belarusian opposition. Belarus, a close Russian ally, has threatened to go after Poland with a cruel response over what the country said were provocations from Poland. Kadyrov himself threatened Poland on . Poland on Saturday said it had seized a high school building near Moscow's Embassy in Warsaw meant for the children of diplomats, a move the Russian envoy called "illegal." The . Poland has been a key refuge for opponents of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Warsaw has become one of Kyiv's staunchest supporters since Belarus' main ally Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The U.S. State Department also just approved a possible sale of High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers and related equipment worth approximately $10 billion to Poland as part of Warsaws efforts to modernize its military, according to a Department of Defense notice. A top Belarusian military official this week said they will attack Poland should the West continue its provocations against Russia. "Take my word for it . "Russia does not . The decision was linked to Minsk curbing traffic for Polish road freight on Belarus' borders with Latvia and Lithuania, the ministry said. Ramzan Kadyrov, a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has begun rattling off threats about attacking Poland after Ukraine. Putin ally Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said in a Friday address to the nation and parliament that Belarus will defend itself by any means, including with nuclear weapons. Sign up and stay up to date with our daily newsletter. According to an assessment from Ukraine Security Service (SBU) Colonel Roman Kostenko, it is possible that. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. However, both Russia and Ukraine immediately rejected the proposal. Subscribe now. 2. The special military operation continues because at the moment it is the only way to achieve the goals that our country faces, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a regular call with journalists, referring to the invasion by the Russian propaganda phrase. The news comes just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Moscow will station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, in what would be the first time Russia places nuclear arms outside of the country since the mid-1990s. In the evening the group set up tents and lit campfires metres from the Polish border. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. At least 8,000 have been caught trying to leave the country, mostly for Moldova or Poland. Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. Poland has completed construction on a new 186-kilometre border wall in an attempt to deter migrants entering from Belarus. The territory of Poland, as well as the Baltic States, is turning into a testing ground where the United States plans to unleash another bloody conflict in Europe against the Russian Federation and its allies, Kosygin said in an interview with BelTA. Cultural relations between the two are quite friendly but diplomatic relations between the two countries are currently very strained. Belarus, a close Russian ally, has threatened to go after Poland with a "cruel" response over what the country said were "provocations" from Poland. Its not the first time that Russia or Putins cronies have suggested that Poland is on their list of targets in Europe. Lukashenko welcomes Putin's plan to station Russian nukes in Belarus 12:30 PM EDT, Fri March 31, 2023, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko attends a news conference with Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi (not pictured) in Tehran, Iran, March 13, 2023. Polish Prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki has promised to provide help to the opposition, which angered president Lukashenko and his allies. Belarus and Poland share a common border (~418 km long) which is the European Union external border, which also splits the primeval Biaowiea Forest between Belarusian and Polish national parks. After Ukraine, if we're given the command, in six seconds we'll show you what we're capable of, Kadyrov said of potentially attacking Poland in May of last year. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. [5] There were 48,700 Belarusians in Poland according to the Polish census of 2002. How the war split the mafia | The Economist Recently, Belarusian men have been called to attend military training . They say they are allegedly very concerned about Belarus' entering the war and yet at the same time they continue provocations on the border.. You heard what the Russian president said about the relevant infrastructure in Belarus' territory. If we have to, Putin and I will bring strategic nuclear weapons here, too. Lukashenko welcomes Putin's plan to station Russian nukes in Belarus Mr Lukashenko propped up his regime by moving closer to Russia and allowing its forces to launch attacks from Belarus on neighbouring Ukraine, where Europes biggest war since 1945 has overshadowed the growing tyranny endured by millions of Belarusians. This is totally inadmissible, Podolyak said. Warsaw is taking the threat seriously. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. Where the other lines will be drawn is still to be determined. I'd like to clarify: the entire infrastructure has been created and is ready, Lukashenko said Friday. [9], On 6 July 2022, scant months after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine caused the announcement by the Morawiecki government of a major increase in funding for the Polish armed forces,[10] the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus noticed that Poland "has already repeatedly displayed its imperial ambitions and, with a support from the [US] White House, positions itself as a leader, not only in Eastern, but in Central Europe as well. Migrants gather on the Belarusian side of the border as Polish officers look on. Belarus was part of the Soviet Union and became an independent country in 1991, after the USSR collapsed. He said they had a "long . Top officials in Belarus, a key Russian ally, are growing increasingly on edge this week about what they see as provocationsand warning that they might soon be forced into a harsh response. And so we demonstrate the combat readiness of the Polish military.. But first there is Tuesdays award ceremony in Tipperary, which Ms Tsikhanouskaya hopes will be attended by the Deane family who hosted her for holidays in Roscrea. After spending several summer holidays in Co Tipperary during her youth, Ms Tsikhanouskaya returns to receive recognition of her fight for democracy in Belarus, where she is widely believed to have beaten veteran dictator Alexander Lukashenko in a 2020 presidential election. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and top security officials visited the . She wants the West to impose tougher sanctions on pro-regime businesses and entrepreneurs, to show members of the Belarusian elite that there is no future with Lukashenko and to ensure that officials know that they will have to answer for their crimes against the people. The sale would include 45 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which can reach far longer ranges than HIMARSa key sale that the Biden administration has not yet green-lighted for Ukraine. And we understand that dictators might do anything to survive so its very important to stop this deployment, Ms Tsikhanouskaya said of a plan which further subjugates Belarus to Russias illegal control. It is Lukashenkos dream to have nuclear weapons. European countries will admit they have been wrong, the West will fall to its knees, and, as usual, European countries will have to cooperate with the Russian Federation in all spheres, Kadyrov said, according to TASS. Poland Warned After Putin Vows to Arm Belarus With Nukes When one member of NATO is attacked, NATO can consider it an attack against all members. Vladimir Putin speaks during a press conference at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. IBT Fast Start - Let the best of International News come to you. Earlier this week, he accused Ukraine of acting provocatively towards Belarus. Belarus has toed the line with Russia and the war in Ukraine for months now. The Baltics, wedged between Russia and Belarus, have been likened to a modern-day West Berlin. On Tuesday, the Polish military is conducting anti-aircraft drills in an effort to demonstrate to would-be aggressors that Poland should be considered off-limits, according to Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Baszczak. Victory for Ukraine is extremely important, Ms Tsikhanouskaya said, because Ukraine and Belarus are facing the same enemy the imperialistic ambitions of Russia. The Kremlin also ruled out the proposal on Friday. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. The head of the border committee of Belarus, Anatoly Lappo, claimed that Poland was acting provocatively, and that if any Polish attack takes place against Belarusian border officials, Belarus will not hold back. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 427 of the invasion As a key NATO ally that shares a 332-mile border with Ukraine, Poland has been quietly bracing for the worst. Belarus helped Russia launch its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, allowing . Poland said on Thursday, citing security concerns, it would close a key border crossing into Belarus at Bobrowniki, starting at 12 p.m. (1100 GMT) on Friday, driving already hostile relations. However, the Russian leader said he would not transfer control of the tactical nuclear weapons to Lukashenko, likening the move to Washingtons practice of stationing nuclear weapons in Europe to keep host countries, like Germany, from breaking their commitments as non-nuclear powers. WARSAW, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Poland announced more curbs to road traffic with Belarus on Monday, hours after saying Minsk was expelling three Polish diplomats, as relations between the two nations deteriorate. "We are not excluding closing other border crossings with Belarus," he told a news conference in Brussels. presents plan to cut Russian gas imports by two-thirds this year, stops short of boycott. We have to be prepared for any eventuality. By Norma Costello, a freelance journalist from Ireland, and Vera Mironova, a. U.S. officials have warned that Russia is likely gearing up for a new onslaught as well. She said that the number continues to grow as authorities dole out jail terms to anyone caught criticising the countrys ruler of almost 30 years, or his alliance with Russia and his support for its invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has already sent some Iskander tactical missile systems, used to launch nuclear weapons, to Belarus, Putin added. Russia has not announced any plans to send strategic nuclear weapons to Belarus. Humanitarian groups are accusing Poland's ruling party of violating the international right to asylum by pushing people back into Belarus instead of accepting their applications for protection.. Poland has adopted a hardline response and its leaders look unlikely to admit thousands of asylum-seekers from the Middle East, even if most are keen to travel on to Germany. Now, Belarus is embracing Russias interest in placing nuclear weapons in Belarus and the return of nuclear forces to its country. We notice that when there are successes on the battlefield for Ukraine, more people [from the regime] come to us with information. Some in the crowd tried to enter Poland by cutting a border fence or battering it with logs. Today we believe that the NATO forces in neighboring countries can become the core for creating attack groups against Russia and Belarus as its closest ally, Khrenin said Thursday. Its border with Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland will be one of the new dividing lines between the democratic West and Putin's autocratic empire. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Nationals from Syria and Afghanistan, as well as African countries like Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have also taken the Belarus route to Europe rather than attempting dangerous sea crossings from Turkey or north Africa. Lukashenko also welcomed Putin's plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, saying it would safeguard his country from a possible invasion from neighboring Poland. The governments state of emergency keeps both aid organisations and journalists out of certain areas. "[11][12] Major-General Ruslan Kosygin continued: "The territory of Poland, as well as the Baltic countries, is turning into a polygon, where the USA plans to unleash another bloody conflict in Europe against the Russian Federation and its allies." Flights from Iraqi Kurdistan have been an important conduit for smugglers to bring people from various Middle Eastern countries to Belarus. "The load on the remaining two checkpoints will critically increase.". See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawieck announced just weeks ago that Poland will increase defense spending to 4 percent of gross domestic product. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry could not immediately be reached for comment on Monday about the latest moves. President of Russia (19992008, 2012present), Russian politician and head of the Chechen Republic, Russia is preparing to mobilize between 300,000 to 500,000 troops, Belarus, a close Russian ally, has threatened to go after Poland, a stray missile fell into Polish territory near its border with Ukraine and killed two. Polish border officials said the border crossing in Kuznica, in the northeast, will be closed early Tuesday. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images). Russia plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, Putin says. Poles make up 3.9% of the population of Belarus according to the 1999 Belarus Census. . Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. Belarus is one of Russia's few allies in its war on Ukraine. I just want to clarify: The entire infrastructure has been created and is ready, Lukashenko said. Warsaw says that the Polish minority in Belarus faces repression from the state, with some community leaders having been imprisoned. Photograph: Mikhail Klimentyev. The threats echoed the way Russia staged attacks against its own troops early this year in order to claim a reason to invade Ukraine. But for now, Russia is struggling to maintain control of territories that it has seized. Senior Ukrainian Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said there cannot be a ceasefire while Russian forces continue to occupy Ukrainian territory. Warsaw will melt and Vilnius will drown. The crisis is also an opportunity for the Polish government to present itself as a "defender" of "Europe's borders" against a perceived invasion from the East. In August 2021, following a sudden influx of refugees coming from Belarus, Poland deployed 15,000 troops to guard the eastern frontier with Belarus. More than 30,000 Russian troops gathered in Belarus in February under the guise of partaking in joint training exercises. We will stop at nothing in defense of our countries, our states, and our peoples, Lukashenko said. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. In the same year, a number of Home Army monuments in Belarus were purposely destroyed. Instead, they entered Ukraine on Feb. 24, the first day of the invasion. Having invaded Ukraine and deployed its troops in a compliant Belarus, Russia has suddenly extended its military power to the borders of several NATO countries, including the Baltic nations . Copyright 2023 IBTimes LLC. Still, so far the scale of human . Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. "The reason for this is that there are growing tensions with Belarus and they are being instrumentalised by the Russians and the Kremlin.". In the event of a conflict, the territory of Poland with its military infrastructure becomes a priority target of the strike, namely decision-making centers, elements of the control system, points of permanent deployment of the National Armed Forces, arsenals and bases, as well as critical objects of their economy and transport infrastructure, he added. The Belarusian situation is a little bit overlooked at the moment because all the focus and attention is on Ukraine and we fully support this. In August 2011, the arrest of Ales Bialiatski using information from Poland led to a harsh war of words between the two countries. Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Frances Kerry, Ukrainian defenders oust Russian forces from some positions in Bakhmut - Ukraine general, US believes Russians in Ukraine have suffered 100,000 casualties in 5 months, Britain's Cleverly expects to meet Chinese vice president this week, French police clash with black-clad anarchists during May Day rallies, Schumer sets expedited process to consider clean debt ceiling suspension, British royals release photo of a beaming Princess Charlotte, Normalising China-Australia trade will take more than a political fix, Protests in Paraguay as losing candidates calls for recount, Australia to pay soldiers bonus to stay as strategic risks rise. Belarus (then known as the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic), was divided between the Soviet Union and the Second Polish Republic when World War II began. Its not the first time Belarusian officials have raised alarm bells about perceived threats from Poland and issued promises to respond forcefully.