"The main thing today is to defend our country, our people and avoid clashes," Belarusian President Alexander Loukachenko reacted on Tuesday, according to statements reported by the Belarusian state press agency Belta.
"This problem must not become a fiery confrontation," he added, referring to the migration crisis on the border with Poland, which he is accused of having orchestrated, does not degenerate into a confrontation with his European neighbors.
Read alsoMigrants in Belarus: Polish wall, European sanctions, Macron-Poutin interview ... update on the situation
Without providing details or concrete elements, he assured to have been informed of "attempts to bring weapons to the migrant camp" installed on the border with Poland.
According to Minsk, more than 2,000 migrants seeking to join the European Union are currently camping in front of the Brouzgui border post in difficult conditions, due to freezing temperatures and limited access to food and basic necessities.
The Belarusian Red Cross said it delivered three tons of aid on Tuesday.
Revenge against European sanctions
Faced with migrants, Poland has deployed its armed forces and police to counter attempts to cross the border illegally.
"I do not see why we deploy planes, helicopters and tanks against refugees," said Alexander Lukashenko, who affirms that Poland has deployed "20,000 soldiers with air force and armored vehicles" at its border.
The EU, which was destabilized in the second half of the 2010s by an unprecedented influx of migrants, accuses the Belarusian authorities of having orchestrated the current crisis in revenge for sanctions decided in retaliation for an unprecedented domestic political repression.
Read also Migrant crisis on the Belarusian border: why Europe is powerless
Member states on Monday said they were developing new punitive measures against the Minsk regime, but at the same time, German Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks with Alexander Lukashenko, a success for the man whose re-election criticized by Europeans did not recognize in August 2020.
"Let them do it, we have nothing against"
“Instead of seeking a solution with the Polish side, the EU is putting an end to cross-border cooperation projects,” said the Belarusian head of state.
“In addition, they threaten us with new sanctions, to build a wall five meters high.
"If they have nothing else to do, let them do it, we have nothing against," he quipped.
The day before, the authoritarian Belarusian leader, however, said he was working on the return to their country of migrants, often from Iraqi Kurdistan.
However, according to him, they refuse to do so, having generally given up everything in the hope of a better life in Europe.
