The EU is preparing new sanctions against Belarus, following repeated incursions of smuggler balloons from Belarus into Lithuania, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced, BNS reports. Earlier, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys urged the EU not to allow the Belarusian regime to blackmail and escape its international isolation and have sanctions lifted, ELTA reported. Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene stated that the balloon incursions were part of a hybrid attack by the Belarusian regime, BNS reported. She said that the government had both short-term and long-term plans how to respond to the incursions, which have disrupted civil aviation. One option under consideration was moving night flights from Vilnius to Kaunas, BNS reported. If the balloon incidents continue, Lithuania may close its border with Belarus again, Ruginiene said. Lithuania will coordinate its actions with strategic partners, including the United States, she added.
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