{"id":162060,"date":"2025-10-29T13:12:40","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T10:12:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/162060\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T13:35:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T13:35:32","slug":"while-lithuania-closes-its-border-poland-vows-to-reopen-crossings-with-belarus","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/162060\/","title":{"rendered":"While Lithuania closes its border, Poland vows to reopen crossings with Belarus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on October 28 the planned reopening of two border crossings along Poland\u2019s frontier with Belarus, speaking at a European Union border event in Bia\u0142ystok, eastern Poland.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n (Joanna Szubzda \/ Polskie Radio Bia\u0142ystok)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The move comes as a surprise, only weeks after Poland had completely closed its border, accusing Belarus of posing hybrid threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raising the barrier again<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we say that these checkpoints can be opened, it is because the border is now guarded better than ever before,\u201d Tusk said. \u201cWe can take a certain risk linked to its opening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The explanation is not particularly convincing. It is true that Poland has strengthened its border protection against undocumented migrants. However, these people do not attempt to cross at checkpoints\u2014they storm the border wall like a medieval fortress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warsaw closed the border with Belarus in September, citing threats related to the Russian-Belarusian military exercise Zapad-2025<\/em>. That justification was not persuasive either, since the maneuvers had been significantly scaled down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In reality, Warsaw sought to punish Minsk for the migrant crisis, for its refusal to cooperate in the investigation of a Polish soldier\u2019s murder at the border, for not releasing journalist and Polish minority activist Andrzej Poczobut and for arresting a Polish monk on espionage charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In that standoff, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka appeared to have the upper hand: Warsaw reopened the border without any concessions from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KGB chief acting as top diplomat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tusk\u2019s decision to reopen the crossings may be the result of behind-the-scenes negotiations between Minsk and Warsaw, according to indirect evidence and well-informed sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivan Tertel, head of the Committee for State Security (KGB), recently stated that his agency maintains certain communication channels and that both sides are close to reaching an understanding. \u201cWe are discussing contentious issues and finding common ground in some areas,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Jacek Dobrzy\u0144ski, spokesman for Poland\u2019s minister coordinating special services, claimed that Polish intelligence services were unaware of any negotiations, he likely preferred not to reveal details before a deal is finalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent months, Tertel has effectively acted as Minsk\u2019s chief negotiator and spokesperson in dealings with the West, while Foreign Minister Maksim Ry\u017eanko\u016d has taken a backseat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tertel, for example, informed journalists about progress in talks with Washington on a potential \u201cgrand bargain\u201d \u2014 the release of political prisoners in exchange for sanctions relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regarding Belarusian-Polish relations, Tertel may also play a key role, since Warsaw\u2019s main demands \u2014 resolving the migrant crisis and freeing imprisoned Poles \u2014 fall within the KGB\u2019s remit. The agency is believed to have orchestrated both the migrant provocations and the arrests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is likely that Tusk made his decision after negotiators reached a preliminary agreement on releasing prisoners. It is worth noting that Warsaw closed the Bobrowniki checkpoint in February 2023 and made its reopening conditional on Poczobut\u2019s release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka can release prisoners without losing face<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka can use ongoing negotiations with Washington to present the release of Polish prisoners as part of a broader \u201cgrand bargain,\u201d allowing him to avoid the appearance of capitulating to Warsaw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In September, Polish Foreign Minister Rados\u0142aw Sikorski mentioned progress in Polish-American talks aimed at securing the release of Belarusian political prisoners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the migration crisis, \u0141uka\u0161enka suggested yesterday that Europe discuss it with the United States as part of the same deal. \u201c[US] President [Donald] Trump\u2019s approach of \u2018all in exchange for all\u2019 can be discussed both with the USA and Europe,\u201d he said in Minsk at a Eurasian security conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, the Belarusian leader appears to expect Europe either to follow Washington\u2019s lead and enter negotiations with Minsk, or to be pushed by Washington to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poland also affected by restricted cross-border traffic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tusk noted that he had wanted to reopen the crossings earlier but was prevented by issues along the Lithuanian-Belarusian and Lithuanian-Russian borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He made the announcement in Bia\u0142ystok, likely to reassure local residents concerned about border restrictions that have hurt regional businesses and disrupted people-to-people contacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

September\u2019s closure of the border had drawn criticism from some Poles. It is possible that Beijing also advised Warsaw to seek alternative solutions that would not harm cross-border movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trust hanging by a thread<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tusk emphasized, \u201cIf it turns out for any reason that the border needs to be closed again, I will not hesitate for a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remark underscores that trust between Minsk and Warsaw remains at a historic low. Minsk continues to demonize Poles, accusing them of seeking to annex western Belarus, while Warsaw places little faith in the dictator \u0141uka\u0161enka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sources claim that both sides have previously reached agreements on Poczobut\u2019s release\u2014only to see them fall apart later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever the political motives, however, reopening the border crossings would undoubtedly benefit ordinary citizens on both sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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