Belarus shuts down Russian oil pipeline to EU, despite Putin's warnings

Belarus border
(Image credit: LEONID SHCHEGLOV/BELTA/AFP via Getty Images)

Migrants at the border between Belarus and Poland are being taken away by bus as of Wednesday, said a Polish government official, per ABC News, which suggests "the tense standoff could be easing."

Thousands of migrants have been stranded in Belarus, seeking to enter Poland, as the growing tensions between the two countries have led the West to accuse Belarus of weaponizing the migrants and using them as "pawns," reports The New York Times. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko is seeking "to punish Poland for sheltering some of his most outspoken opponents and to pressure the European Union into lifting sanctions on his country," writes the Times, and also followed through with his threats to shut down an oil pipeline transporting Russian gas through Belarus to the European Union, escalating his "hybrid attack."

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Summer Meza, The Week US

Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.