OREANDA-NEWS   Lithuania has expressed its willingness to negotiate with Belarus. This was announced by the head of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kestutis Budris, LRT reports.

"To solve all such border problems, we have indicated that we have an ambassador-at-large. (...) We have offered the Belarusian side to conduct these negotiations and consultations in this way," he said.

According to Budris, Vilnius is ready to increase pressure on Minsk by expanding the sanctions regime of the European Union, as well as bilateral contacts with the United States. Lithuania continues to claim that Belarus is allegedly sending contraband balloons to the republic. The first such statements appeared in the media at the end of October.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko noted that Lithuania is escalating the problem due to balloons with contraband. He stressed that Vilnius' accusations are not true, and the possible desire of the republic's authorities to start a war is not necessary for residents of the Baltic countries themselves.