Lithuanian president urges restraint amid truck delays in Belarus

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda urged restraint over freight trucks stranded in Belarus, saying the situation should not be made a “tragedy” while reasons for the delays are clarified.

Speaking to reporters in Vilnius on November 21, the president said there was not yet evidence that Minsk was deliberately attempting to hold the vehicles, suggesting the issue could instead be linked to attempts by Belarus to signal a bargaining position, Caliber.Az reports per Lithuanian media.

“There is no need to rush and make a tragedy out of this. First, we must establish what alleged or real reasons are preventing our lorries from moving. It may well be that this is not a deliberate attempt to detain them, but perhaps a way of showing a certain negotiating posture,” Nausėda said.

He noted that diplomatic and technical contacts had already been initiated to obtain clarification from Belarusian authorities.

The comments came a day after Lithuania reopened the Medininkai and Šalčininkai border checkpoints following nearly three weeks of closure due to security concerns related to contraband balloons. Despite the reopening, Belarus has not released the Lithuanian trucks currently in the country.

Nausėda praised the “courage” of Lithuanian hauliers who continue to send individual vehicles into Belarus despite the uncertainty.

The current crisis originated after Lithuania closed its border crossings with Belarus on October 29, in response to suspected smuggling of contraband via meteorological balloons.In retaliation, Belarus blocked the return of Lithuanian-registered trucks, moving them to specially designated parking areas and warning that fees may be imposed.

The number of stranded freight vehicles is estimated to be between 2,000 and 5,000, with daily losses of €400–800 per truck, placing a heavy burden on transport companies and the broader Lithuanian economy.

Negotiations were held on 18 November at the closed Lavoriškės checkpoint to discuss both the smuggling issue and the safe return of the trucks.

By Aghakazim Guliyev