There are increasing tensions in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. A recent war of words by the leaders of Russia, Belarus, and the US has only heightened the situation.  And the blockade on Belarus continues, as Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki is preparing his country for war.

Russia used Belarus as a staging area for the initial invasion of Ukraine.  And Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko remains a staunch ally and vocal supporter of Russian President Putin. 

Morawiecki traveled last week with the prime ministers of the Czech Republic, and Slovenia, to Kyiv to meet with Ukraine President Zelenskyy. All 3 are NATO countries. And each of them believes they might be next on Putin’s invasion list.

After the trip, Morawiecki posted on Facebook that “We have to halt this tragedy unfolding in the East as quickly as possible.” 

Poland’s Strategic Location prompts blockade on Belarus

Poland, with a population of 38 million is the fifth most populated member state of the EU. And it is strategically located with the Republic of Belarus sitting between it and Russia.

Hundreds of protesters and multi-national activists have been stopping trucks at the Poland-Belarus border.

Most of the Polish government and the activists believe that Russia is getting around the sanctions by moving goods through Belarus.

It has been reported that there were Ukrainians, Poles, and Belarusians among the protestors. And their demands include a total European Union trade blockade of Russia. In the meantime, they are attempting a blockade on Belarus.

The first protests took place at the Kukuryki-Kazlovichi, the largest border crossing between the European Union and Belarus The first blockade continued from March 12th to  14th.  And according to Svoboda, the backup of trucks at times stretches 50 kilometers (31 miles). 

From the makeshift podium, the protestors announced, “Every euro trade with Russia kills Ukrainian citizens.”

Despite the already strict sanctions, hundreds of trucks with goods are still driving towards Russia every day. And the protestors aim to stop them.

On March 19th the activists came back in larger numbers. And activists are standing on the road with signs and Polish and Ukrainian flags. And those protestors say they will continue their efforts. Because they believe they are cutting off the main transport artery for sanctioned goods to Russia.

Poland preparing for an attack

Belarus is accusing Poland of not preventing the activists' efforts to block freight traffic.

The Polish authorities are trying to keep protesters beyond the point of customs clearance trucks. But have not made a move to stop the protests.

And Poland is doubling down on the sanctions against Russia. 

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is proposing a trade block to the sanctions. And insisting both seaports ban Russian ships, as well as banning trading by land.  To assure that “Russia is completely cut off from trade”, said Morawiecki.

On Saturday, Morawiecki gave a speech outlining Polish security.

“And either we will pay this price for security on the battlefield with the blood of our soldiers, our mothers, our wives, our children, as it is happening in Ukraine today, or we will pay for this security by expanding the army, modernizing the army, using modern weapons in today’s field fighting,” he said.

“Either there is security, or we are all blackmailed, as is Russia’s blackmail today,” the PM added.

“Our internal technologies, allocating more resources, are supposed to serve this purpose” he explained. And that “we will be the best, well prepared for the geopolitical turmoil that lies ahead”.