Lukashenko promises to stop the flight of meteorological balloons from Belarus to Lithuania
The self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, agreed to stop the flight of meteorological balloons that harm Lithuania, as reported by a representative of the U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
The announcement to stop the flights came after Lithuanian authorities repeatedly closed Vilnius Airport due to the appearance of dangerous objects in the airspace. According to John Cole, Donald Trump’s envoy, Lukashenko promised to do everything possible to ensure that these flights no longer interfere with Lithuanian aviation surveillance. European politicians speculate that the balloons may be involved in cigarette smuggling.
Vilnius Airport has become a security threat object due to narrow balloon flights from Belarus, which have already caused it to be closed more than ten times. The most recent incident occurred on the evening of December 6, affecting nine flights and about 1000 passengers. Additionally, on November 29, Vilnius Airport remained closed overnight due to dangerous flights from Belarus.
The situation on the border between Belarus and Lithuania requires interstate cooperation to address security issues. Experts note that stopping balloon flights could reduce tension in the region and improve relations between the two countries.
| Date | Number of flights at risk | Number of affected passengers |
|---|---|---|
| November 29 | entire night schedule | n/a |
| December 6 | 9 | 1000 |
