Belarus

It is appalling, and I do not know what the outcome will be.

It's appalling that Belarus is using these desperate people as a political tool.

The Polish Prime Minister has said the mastermind of the crisis lies in Moscow.

I just don’t know how it will end, they are not even letting aid through. Just imagine being there with a young family, no food, no water and no hope

MerylStreep

The Polish Prime Minister has said the mastermind of the crisis lies in Moscow.

This is true. Putin's aim is to undermine the west and that means attacking the EU by any means.

Belarus is a corrupt country and a sham democracy- one of the only two states in Europe to use the undemocratic FPTP electoral system. This makes it an easy target for the Russians. The unfortunate refugees are being abused for political ends.

Belarus threatens to cut gas deliveries to EU if sanctioned over border crisis

Lukashenko responds to possible sanctions as thousands of migrants camp in freezing temperatures at Poland border

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/11/belarus-threatens-to-cut-gas-deliveries-to-eu-if-sanctioned-over-border-crisis

An autocrat elected by a minority in a FPTP sham democracy can do what he damn well likes/.

One of the refugees said half of them want to come to the UK.

Why are they in Belarus?

They've been 'invited' to use Belarus as an entry point to the EU.
Varian 8.59 explains it better than I could.

Both Belarus and Poland need to give these people some help,
Food, water and fuel whilst they are encamped on the border, until this is sorted out.
While the majority are young men, there are some women and children there.I hope both countries realise that the eyes of the world are on them.
The migrants in Calais ( for example) had a lot of charities helping them with basics.

There have been long running sanctions against Belarus and Russia since the partition of Ukraine, many before that which has really hurt the economy.
We need more friendly relations with them or we will have another Ukraine situation. Russia see the EU as a hostile neighbour and will back Belarus, the fact that we carry out military exercises in the Baltic to the Balkans does nothing to calm their fears
The EU should of course secure its borders but the military activity is not helpful

lemongrove

Both Belarus and Poland need to give these people some help,
Food, water and fuel whilst they are encamped on the border, until this is sorted out.
While the majority are young men, there are some women and children there.I hope both countries realise that the eyes of the world are on them.
The migrants in Calais ( for example) had a lot of charities helping them with basics.

According to an earlier post on this thread, Belarus is not letting any aid through to them. I'm sure that the aid charities will be desperate to get help to them.