{"id":181334,"date":"2026-03-27T21:16:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T18:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/181334\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T21:16:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T18:16:14","slug":"minsk-hits-back-at-vilnius-over-refusal-to-engage","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/181334\/","title":{"rendered":"Minsk hits back at Vilnius over refusal to engage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

March 27, Pozirk.<\/strong> Rus\u0142an Varanko\u016d, spokesman for the Belarusian foreign ministry, has hit back at Vilnius over its refusal to engage with Minsk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe artificial ultimatums that Vilnius is attempting to put forward have nothing to do with good neighborly relations or normal diplomatic practice,\u201d he told RIA Novosti<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remarks follow Lithuanian President Gitanas Naus\u0117da\u2019s statement earlier today that Vilnius would not engage with Minsk unless it demonstrates consistent \u201cneighborly goodwill.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If officials in Vilnius are not ready \u201cfor an equal conversation but prefer to publicly outline demands instead of sitting down at the negotiating table, then their reluctance to resolve outstanding issues remains on their conscience,\u201d Varanko\u016d was quoted by the foreign ministry as saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that Minsk remains open to constructive engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the outstanding issues, the foreign ministry spokesman pointed to disrupted business ties with Belarus and impediments to cross-border traffic that prevent people from visiting the graves of their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier today, Naus\u0117da described the behavior of Belarusian authorities toward their Western neighbors as a \u201cpush and pull.\u201d \u201cAt times they demonstrate alleged goodwill, although it is difficult to call it goodwill when, for example, Lithuanian trucks that were illegally stopped and detained are being returned. It\u2019s like being grateful for the return of illegally seized goods,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was commenting on a statement by John Coale, US special envoy for Belarus, encouraging Vilnius to begin political-level talks with Minsk. The two neighbors remain at odds over Lithuanian trucks held by Belarus, cigarette smuggling disrupting operations at Lithuanian airports, irregular migration, sanctions on Belarusian potash fertilizers, human rights, Vilnius\u2019s support for the Belarusian opposition, Belarus\u2019 nuclear power plant and Minsk\u2019s support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt present, we see absolutely no goodwill on the part of Belarus,\u201d Naus\u0117da was quoted by LRT<\/em> as saying. \u201cOpportunities for dialogue arise when the other side demonstrates goodwill and seeks to foster good neighborly relations as much as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Naus\u0117da, \u201ca dialogue at a certain level\u201d with Belarus would be possible if Lithuania observes Belarus \u201cfor a certain period of time\u201d and sees that the Belarusian regime poses no direct threat to the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Coale made his most recent remarks about the need for dialogue between Vilnius and Minsk in an interview published by LRT<\/em> on March 27. \u201cPresident [Donald] Trump and I do not believe in preconditions,\u201d he said. \u201cI hope that Lithuania agrees to a bilateral dialogue at the level of deputy foreign ministers. We need to stop those things that hinder life on both sides.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coale stressed that diplomats from both countries should begin addressing existing issues and work toward enabling trade with the European Union and the United States, including exports of Belarusian potash fertilizers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his visit to Vilnius on March 18, Coale held a series of meetings with Lithuanian politicians, including Prime Minister Inga Ruginien\u0117.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commenting on his March 27 remarks, she described possible contacts with Minsk as \u201ctechnical-level meetings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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