Russian President Vladimir Putin stated today that Russia is not involved in the current migrant crisis at the Belarus-Poland frontier.

“I want all to know.” After Poland and other Western critics had accused Moscow of conspiring with Minsk in order to transport thousands of migrants across the EU border, he stated that they have nothing to do.

Putin claimed that European leaders must talk with Alexander Lukashenko the Belarusian President if they are to solve the crisis. This has resulted in hundreds of migrants mainly from Middle East who have been left stranded at the border.

Putin stated that Alexander Lukashenko (German Chancellor Angela Merkel) are open to talking to one another.

“I wish this would happen in the near-future – it is very important.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said today in an interview with Russian state television (pictured) that Russia has nothing to do with the migrant crisis on the Belarus-Poland border

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated today, in an interview on Russian state television (pictured), Russia does not have anything to do with the current migrant crisis along the Belarus-Poland border.

Putin said in the interview (pictured) that European leaders needed to talk to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko if they want to resolve the crisis, which has left hundreds of migrants, mainly from the Middle East, trapped on the border

Putin claimed in the interview (pictured), that European leaders must talk to Alexander Lukashenko the Belarusian president if they are to solve the crisis. This has resulted in hundreds of migrants, mostly from the Middle East and trapped at the borders.

Pictured: Soldiers from the Polish Armed Forces patrol the Belarus-Polish border on November 11, 2021 in Kuznica, Poland. Poland and other Western critics have accused Moscow of working with Minsk to send thousands of migrants to the EU border

Pictured: Polish Armed Forces Soldiers Patrol the Belarus-Polish Border on November 11, 2021 at Kuznica in Poland. Poland, along with other Western critics, has accused Moscow of conspiring to transport thousands of migrants across the EU border.

He blamed again the West for this crisis and said that its Middle East policies were what prompted migrants to seek refuge in Europe.

“We must not forget from where the crises that are associated with migration originated.” Is Belarus responsible for these crises or is it something else? Putin stated.

These reasons are not created by Western countries, even European ones. These reasons are both political and military in nature.

Putin said that Russia considers the recent US-led Black Sea exercises and NATO ship movements a serious threat.

“The United States of America and NATO allies are conducting unplanned exercises at the Black Sea. These exercises involve not only a powerful naval force, but also air and space aviation. He said this in an interview to Vesti state broadcaster.

Many thousands of Middle East migrants are hiding in cold woods near the border with Belarus, EU countries Poland and Lithuania. They are being refused entry.

Many people have already been killed and it is now possible for others to die. Police in Poland said that on Saturday, they had found the remains of a young Syrian boy in the woods. 

Podlaska Police tweeted: “Yesterday, near Wolka Terrichowska and near the border was the body of a young Syrian men.”

According to police, they were unable at this time to establish the cause of the death.

Aid groups say that the death brings to 11 the number reported deaths of migrants since the start of the crisis this summer. 

A group of about 100 migrants attempted to cross into the country from the opposite area during the night, according to police. According to police, “After being questioned by soldiers and police, they fled into the forest.” 

Since the summer, thousands of migrants, most from the Middle East and Europe have attempted or crossed the EU/NATO border.

This week, larger numbers of migrants arrived at the border in large groups and tried to cross. Polish border guards believe that there are approximately 4,000 migrants currently camping along the border.

Western nations have charged the Belarusian regime with inciting the current crisis as a retaliation for EU sanctions. This accusation has been denied by Minsk. 

Polish army have erected 180 kilometres of barber wire fencing (pictured) across the border with Belarus. Pictures from Poland Ministry of Defence

The Polish Army has erected 180 kms of barbed wire fencing (pictured), across their border with Belarus. Images courtesy of Poland Ministry of Defence

Pictured: A camp of asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants on the Belarus-Polish border in the Grodno region, not far from the checkpoint Bruzgi, Belarus, 12 November 2021

Photo: An asylum-seeker, refugee, and migration camp at the Belarus-Polish border, Grodno Region, Belarus. It is located not far from checkpoint Bruzgi in Belarus. 12 November 2021

Pictured: Belarusian servicemen control the situation while migrants get humanitarian aid as they gather at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno, Belarus, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021

Pictured: Belarusian servicemen control the situation while migrants get humanitarian aid as they gather at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno, Belarus, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021

Lukashenko seeks to pay back for EU sanctions; Putin loves mischief. 

Why is the crisis so severe?

After the election in August 2020 that elected authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko to a sixth term, Belarus experienced months of protests. Opposition and West both rejected this result.

The Belarusian authorities responded strongly to protests by arresting more than 35,000 and beating thousands of people.

Both the U.S. and European Union reacted to Lukashenko by placing sanctions against his government.

After a Belarusian passenger jet carrying passengers from Greece to Lithuania was diverted into Minsk in May, authorities arrested Roman Pratasevich.

EU called it Air Piracy. It barred Belarusian air carriers from its skies, and reduced imports to the top commodities of the country, such as oil products and potash (an ingredient in fertilizer).

Lukashenko, furious at the EU’s sanctions for denying his government funds to control migration flows, responded by saying that he wouldn’t abide any agreement to stop illegal immigration.

As a result, planes transporting migrants from Syria, Iraq, and other nations began to arrive in Belarus. Soon, they were heading for Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Pavel Latushka of the Belarusian Opposition claimed that government-controlled tourism agencies assisted migrants in obtaining visas and driving them across Belarus.

Lukashenko was accused by the EU of using migrants to pawns as part of a hybrid attack against 27-nation bloc, in retaliation against the sanctions. Lukashenko denied encouraging migrants to flow and claimed that the EU violates migrants’ rights by depriving them of safe passage.

How has the EU responded to this?

Lithuania created a temporary state of emergency during the summer to manage an influx in migrants and reinforce its border with Belarus. To accommodate increasing numbers of migrants, it set up tent camps.

In recent months, small groups made it possible to escape from Latvia, Poland, Lithuania and Poland by using forests paths that were far away form populated areas.

This week, large groups of people gathered in open areas at the Polish border. Some used shovels or wire cutters to cut through the fence.

Warsaw officials estimated that there were between 3,000 to 4,000 people in the area and prevented many from entering.

Poland used riot police as well other force to strengthen the border security. At the border between Belarus and Poland, eight people have died. Nighttime temperatures dropped below freezing.

EU officials have made strong statements of solidarity to Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. EU officials will discuss a second round of sanctions against Belarus. President Charles Michel, the European Council president, stated that for the first times the bloc would look into financing “physical infrastructure” such as fencing or barriers at the border. 

How does Russia play a role in this?

Russia’s main ally in Belarus provided support, including loans and political assistance, to Lukashenko’s government.

Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, stated that the migration flows were a result of the U.S.-led invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan as well as Western-backed Arab Spring revolts in the Middle East or North Africa.

To deal with this influx, he challenged the EU for financial aid to Belarus.

The Kremlin resentfully rejected the claim of Poland that Russia was responsible for the crisis.

Usau stated that Russia may be willing to serve as mediator between Germany and the EU in an effort to strengthen ties.

The discovery of the body comes amid mounting international tension over the migrant crisis, with neighbours of Belarus warning the situation could escalate into a military conflict and U.S. President Joe Biden expressing his concern. 

After Washington raised concerns about Russian military activities near Ukraine’s borders this week, Putin made these comments.

Washington demanded clarity regarding troop movements close to the border from Antony Blinken (US top diplomat), Wednesday.

On Friday, the EU stated that it is also worried about Russian military actions near Ukraine’s borders. The EU, which includes 27 countries, said it would be closely monitoring the situation along with all its partners. This included the US and Britain.

Spokesman for the Pentagon said that Russia’s movement was unusual in terms of its scale and extent.

Ukraine is currently at war with pro Moscow separatists within its eastern region since the 2014 Russian seizure of Crimea from Kiev.  

Putin’s comments came after RAF fighter pilots and heavy US bombers took to the skies above the North Sea in a show of strength in the region.

British Typhoons, F35 Lightning and US B1 bombers joined forces in Operation Point Blank. 

US air force stated that the mission showed their ‘commitment’ to cooperate closely with its allies and partners to stop any possible adversary from taking aggressive steps. 

This exercise was prompted by a pair Russian nuclear bombers that forced the RAF on Friday to defend British airspace above the North Sea. 

The Typhoons were scrambled from Lossiemouth, Scotland, and Coningsby, Lincolnshire, along with a refuelling jet from Brize Norton, Oxfordshire as British troops were deployed at the Polish border amid a Kremlin-backed migrant crisis.

The MoD confirms that two Russian Tu-160 White Swan’ Bombers entered the UK area of Interest. However, it does not give further details. Photographs show the RAF aircraft escorting these bombers.

According to the RAF, the Kremlin warplanes were intercepted in Dutch airspace and seen headed north over international airspace above the North Sea around 12.45pm. Mil Radar

As tensions rose, British soldiers deployed to the Polish border between Belarus and Poland on Thursday. 

Due to the escalating crisis of migrants at the EU’s edge, there was a quick military buildup. Russian paratroopers were seen landing on the other side of the border.  

An estimated ten-strong British forward party will assist Polish forces to strengthen their border to Belarus. There are as many as 4,500 migrants, mostly from Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Yemen, who have assembled in hopes of crossing into Europe.

Belarus began to build camps for those who spent many nights sleeping in frozen forests without food.

Katarzyna Zanowicz spoke for Poland’s eastern Podlasie border guards and said that the scale of the problem was not decreasing.

She stated that the Belarusian army had sent wood and water across the border to help migrants.

According to reports, another 15,000 migrants are in Belarus. These were brought into Europe in revenge against EU sanctions by Alexander Lukashenko.

Moscow is a crucial ally of Lukashenko and has been accused in the fueling of the crisis.

Many Russian paratroopers flew from military aircraft to Belarus as the Royal Engineers entered the region. 

The border flashpoint was 25 miles away and they conducted tactical exercises. 

Two of the Russian troops who were killed in action by the Russian military defense ministry returned home to Russia after the exercise. This was seen as support for Lukasenko. 

Tobias Ellwood, a Tory ex-defense minister, backed the Ministry of Defence’s show of solidarity with Poland.

He stated that NATO states would need to respond quickly to the threat and countries sharing borders with Russia will require additional support.

“Any failure to do this would be taken as weakness by President Putin.

“He could invade Ukraine without any hesitation.” It’s a sign of how weak the West is.

 

The show of strength came just two days before a pair of Russian nuclear bombers forced the RAF to defend British airspace over the North Sea (Pictured: U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles, F-15E Strike Eagles, assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing, and Royal Air Force fighter aircraft escort KC-135 Statotankers, assigned to Royal Air Force Mildenhall)

This show of strength occurred just days after a pair Russian nuclear bombers had forced the RAF into defending British airspace above the North Sea. (Pictured are U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles and F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing. Royal Air Force fighter planes escort KC-135 Statotankers assigned to Royal Air Force Millenhall).

UK and US fighter jets and bombers took to the skies over the North Sea amid rising tensions in Eastern Europe (Pictured: U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles, F-15E Strike Eagles, assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing, and Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s escort B-1 Lancer Bombers, assigned to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas)

UK and US fighter jets and bombers took to the skies over the North Sea amid rising tensions in Eastern Europe (Pictured: U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles, F-15E Strike Eagles, assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing, and Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s escort B-1 Lancer Bombers, assigned to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas)

Putin is massing his forces close to Ukrainian territory, with satellite images taken in the last few weeks showing large camps of tanks and artillery pieces in the region

Putin is massing forces near Ukrainian territory. The satellite images of the last week show large artillery and tanks camps in this region.

This week, America warned European leaders that Russia could invade Ukraine. Russia annexed Crimea, Ukraine’s territory in 2014 and has threatened to do so again.

Satellite images showed tens to thousands of Russian soldiers at the Ukrainian border.

Antony Blinken, Secretary of State, stated that Moscow would make a serious mistake if the Russian 90,000. troops placed to march on Ukraine made such a move.

This week, he assured Kiev that Washington was committed to Ukraine’s safety ‘iron-clad.

“We do not know Russia’s intentions,” he said. But we do know that we’ve seen in the past – Russia mass forces on Ukraine’s borders, claim some kind of provocation by Ukraine, and then invade. This is what they did last year.

France called on Russia to end the migration crisis by using its relations with Belarus and warned of ‘grave consequences’ if Russia threatened Ukraine. Russia’s actions at Ukraine’s borders were alarming to the EU.

Belarus stated that it was prepared to defend itself. It accused Poland for an unprecedented military build-up along the border. The 15,000 troops were backed up by air and tank defenses as well support.

Viktor Khrenin (defense minister) said: “Belarus’ armed forces will respond severely to any attack.”

Turkey declared Thursday that Iraqis and Syrians would not be allowed to travel to Belarus. Iraq announced that it will repatriate Iraqis to Belarus and also canceled direct flights.