Putin, Lukashenko Discuss Migrant Crisis on Belarus-Poland Border

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko held a phone call about the migrant crisis on Belarus’ border with Poland, the Kremlin said on Friday.

The Kremlin press service said in a statement that there are ongoing discussions about the migrant crisis at the borders of Belarus with the countries of the European Union, amid "serious concern over the unacceptable, brutal actions" of the Polish border guards against the migrants

Lukashenko informed Putin of Minsk's steps to de-escalate the situation and provide humanitarian assistance to the migrants, the Kremlin said in a statement.

The two presidents stressed the importance of cooperation between Minsk and the European Union in solving the crisis, the statement said. They also touched on certain aspects of Russian-Belarusian cooperation in trade and economy.

On her part, Belarusian Press Secretary Natalia Esmont said earlier that there are about 7,000 refugees in the country, including 2,000 refugees in random camps on the border with Poland, pointing out that Minsk will not force the refugees out.

Esmont also confirmed that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko spoke with German Chancellor Merkel and demanded establishing a humanitarian corridor for 2,000 refugees...