The Buzz | EU to add airlines to Belarus sanctions as tensions mount

The European Union yesterday ratcheted up pressure on Belarus by agreeing to slap sanctions on airlines accused of helping President Alexander Lukashenko to wage a “hybrid attack” against the bloc using migrants, as tensions mounted on the Polish and Lithuanian borders.
Up to 4,000 migrants are stuck in makeshift camps in freezing weather after Poland reinforced its border with Belarus with 15,000 soldiers, in addition to border guards and police. At least nine migrants have died. Many of them want to head further west, often to Germany.
Polish authorities said that Belarusian services had led a large group to a border crossing with Poland and made them believe they would be transported by bus to Germany. Polish police say they are broadcasting messages across the border telling the migrants that “they have been deceived.”
Meanwhile, Lithuanian officials said it was seeing a rising number of attempts by migrants to cross its border from Belarus, but the situation on the border was under control.