Upon the arrival of Tusk and von der Leyen at Belarus' border, soldiers emerged brandishing firearms.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently visited the Polish-Belarusian border, amidst advisements from security services to cancel or relocate the joint visit. The advisement was given due to the presence of Belarusian soldiers with rifles near the intended visit location, as reported by RMF24.
The leaders participated in a briefing with commanders of the Border Service and the army in Kriniky, where the themes of the talks included the SAFE loan program. This program is part of a plan to rearm Europe in response to the development of Russia's military potential.
During the visit, Tusk and von der Leyen inspected the "Eastern Shield" components and a modernized steel barrier at the border. A 5.5-meter-high steel fence, supplemented by an electronic barrier active on 206 km of this border, including river sections, has been installed along the 186 km border with Belarus in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. An electronic barrier 171 km long has been installed along the border river Bug in the Lubelskie Voivodeship.
Prime Minister Tusk stated that they were there to show "true European resolve." President von der Leyen came to express the full solidarity of Europe with Poland as a frontline country, facing hybrid actions and migration pressure, instigated by Belarus and Russia, for several years at the Polish-Belarusian border.
After the briefing, Tusk asked President von der Leyen if she was willing to participate in the conference given the situation, and she responded affirmatively. Tusk and von der Leyen later inspected the site where components for the construction of the "Eastern Shield" are stored, as well as the modernized steel barrier at the border.
The leaders reiterated their commitment to ensuring the security and stability of the European Union's eastern border. They emphasized the importance of cooperation and solidarity in the face of ongoing challenges.
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