Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said, “I really hope
that common sense in Europe will not allow any games to be played around
Kaliningrad."

Russia has warned neighbouring European countries against closing their
borders with Russia and Belarus, claiming that doing so would result in
the blockade of Russia's westernmost exclave, Kaliningrad.

In response to Moscow's military offensive in Ukraine, Latvian and
Lithuanian leaders made statements earlier this week about the possibility
of closing their borders with Russia and Belarus.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko commented on the
situation on Wednesday, expressing extreme optimism that "common sense"
would stave off the Europeans from "playing with fire." Residents of
Kaliningrad would be denied the ability to travel by land to Russia's main
territory by implementing such measures.

His comments follow statements by Latvian and Lithuanian officials this
week pushing for the closure of borders between their countries’ Russian
and Belarusian borderlines.

Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks had said on Tuesday that the move
could only happen if all three Baltic nations made the decision together,
echoing Lithuanian FM Gabrielius Landsbergis’ suggestion of a wider
collective “European or regional solution” being needed.

Andrey Deschitsa, the Ukrainian ambassador to Poland, disclosed on March
31 that his country was in negotiations with Warsaw regarding sealing the
border between Poland and Belarus.

Even before Moscow's launched its military offensive against Kyiv, Poland
and the Baltic nations were recognised for their tough stance toward
Russia. Following the commencement of the "special military operation",
these countries have repeatedly urged their allies to intensify sanctions
against Moscow and have taken steps on their own as well. Poland expelled
45 Russian diplomats two weeks ago, alleging that they were involved in
espionage operations endangering Poland's and its allies' security.

https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/russia-ukraine-crisis/ukraine-war-moscow-warns-europe-against-closing-borders-with-russia-playing-with-fire-articleshow.html

***

meanwhile...

Nato dispatches T-72 tanks to Ukraine

The Czech Republic became the first Nato country to send weaponry to aid
Ukraine in its war with Russia not specifically designated for the
purposes of defence.

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was reticent when pressed for
details on Wednesday, but did not deny the shipment had been ratified by
the alliance after the Kyiv Post tweeted footage of the ordnance arriving
by train.

“I will not go into all details of exactly what kind of weapons, equipment
allies are providing,” he said.

“But I can say that the totality of what allies are doing is significant
and that includes also some heavier systems combined with lighter systems.”

In the early stages of Russia's invasion, Vladimir Putin warned that
direct Nato aid for the besieged country would be met with a nuclear
response.

Although the T-72 tanks and BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicles may not be
manned by Nato personnel, their deployment ups the ante and marks a shift
in the alliance's policy of only sending defensive weapons to assist the
Ukrainian resistance.

https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/2022/04/06/nato-dispatches-t-72-tanks-to-ukraine-to-bite-the-hand-that-made-them/