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Polish PM, Lithuanian president to discuss border security

03.08.2023 07:30
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda are expected to meet in northeastern Poland on Thursday to discuss border security amid Russia's war against Ukraine and the movement of Russian mercenaries to Belarus.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.Photo: PAP/Paweł Supernak

Morawiecki and Nausėda will hold talks in the Polish city of Suwałki near Russia’s westernmost region of Kaliningrad, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

In a video message posted on social media ahead of the meeting, Morawiecki said that "cooperation between Poland and its ally Lithuania is essential in the face of threats and provocations from Russia and Belarus."

Earlier this week, the Polish government decided to move additional troops and combat helicopters to the Belarusian border after two Belarusian helicopters crossed into Polish airspace during an air exercise in the area, according to officials. 

The Polish prime minister said at the end of July that Poland was guarding its border with Belarus "with full determination" against a threat from Wagner Group mercenaries stationed there.

Morawiecki said at the time that more than 100 Wagner fighters had moved to the Suwałki Corridor area on the Polish-Lithuanian border, which separates the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea from Belarus.

Lithuania's Nausėda said on Monday that the presence of Wagner fighters near his country's border represented “a serious threat.”

He added that the Lithuanian army would support the border guards if necessary. 

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

Thursday is day 526 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP