The Lithuanian government announced on Wednesday it is reopening two border crossings with Belarus that were closed weeks ago following disruptions caused by balloons used to smuggle cigarettes. Lithuania initially planned to keep the crossings closed for a month, but the reopening decision was advanced by a day. Officials consider the balloon disruptions a deliberate act by Belarus, an ally of Russia. The decision aims to ease the return of Lithuanian trucks stranded in Belarus. Minsk refused to open a corridor to evacuate the trucks, demanding Lithuania fully reopen the border. Delegations of customs officials from both countries met for technical negotiations. Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko stated about 1,200 vehicles were stranded and threatened to impound them if Lithuania kept the border closed. Lithuania is a NATO and EU member and warned the border could again be closed if balloons and drones reappear. NATO also issued a warning to Moscow about airspace breaches after incidents involving Russian drones and fighters over Poland and Estonia.

The Lithuanian government announced on Wednesday it is reopening two border crossings with Belarus that were closed weeks ago following disruptions caused by balloons used to smuggle cigarettes. Lithuania initially planned to keep the crossings closed for a month, but the reopening decision was advanced by a day. Officials consider the balloon disruptions a deliberate act by Belarus, an ally of Russia. The decision aims to ease the return of Lithuanian trucks stranded in Belarus. Minsk refused to open a corridor to evacuate the trucks, demanding Lithuania fully reopen the border. Delegations of customs officials from both countries met for technical negotiations. Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko stated about 1,200 vehicles were stranded and threatened to impound them if Lithuania kept the border closed. Lithuania is a NATO and EU member and warned the border could again be closed if balloons and drones reappear. NATO also issued a warning to Moscow about airspace breaches after incidents involving Russian drones and fighters over Poland and Estonia.