Lithuania considers talks with Belarus at deputy minister level under strict conditions

Lithuania may engage in talks with Belarus at the deputy minister level, but only if Minsk meets three key demands, Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė told LRT.lt on Thursday.

Ruginienė confirmed that Lithuania is reviewing a proposal from US special envoy for Belarus John Coale to hold discussions with Belarusian officials. However, she stressed that no negotiations on Belarusian fertiliser transit through Lithuania are possible while EU sanctions remain in place.

“We have never discussed fertiliser transit with the US envoy at any level,” Ruginienė said. “Our talks focused solely on meteorological balloons, the release of detained Lithuanian trucks, and illegal migration—these are our conditions for deputy minister-level meetings with Belarus.”

The prime minister outlined three prerequisites for dialogue: an end to the smuggling of meteorological balloons across the border, the unconditional return of all detained Lithuanian trucks without fines or fees, and a halt to Belarus-facilitated illegal migration into Lithuania.

“We are only discussing a technical meeting to exchange positions,” Ruginienė clarified. “Such a meeting can only occur once our conditions are fulfilled.”

While balloon incidents have decreased, Ruginienė attributed this to Lithuania’s active anti-smuggling efforts. She noted that some balloons continue to target Vilnius Airport deliberately—a sign of “hybrid attacks.” Belarus has also released some detained trucks but demands payment for storage, a condition Lithuania rejects.

Meanwhile, Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas supported the possibility of technical-level talks with Minsk, stating that higher-level engagement would depend on progress. “If further advancements are made, other formats may become possible,” he said. Olekas reiterated Lithuania’s stance: “We seek good neighbourly relations, but under clear conditions—an end to Belarus’s support for Russia’s aggression and the release of all political prisoners.”

Olekas acknowledged that while Coale’s visits to Minsk have led to some political prisoner releases, this alone is insufficient for high-level dialogue. He emphasised the need to continue leveraging US diplomatic channels to pressure Belarus into meeting Lithuania’s demands.