BRUSSELS/WARSAW (Reuters) – The European Union will toughen sanctions on Belarus on Monday and should lengthen them to incorporate airways and others concerned in transporting migrants, the EU’s high diplomat stated, because the migrant disaster on the Polish border intensifies.

Forward of an EU overseas ministers’ assembly, Germany’s Heiko Maas stated airways might be informed to cease transporting migrants to Minsk or face being banned from touchdown in Europe, warning: “We’re nowhere close to the top of the sanctions spiral.”

Europe accuses Belarus of mounting “a hybrid assault” by flying in migrants from nations like Syria and Afghanistan and pushing them to cross illegally into EU member Poland. Belarus has repeatedly denied the accusation.

On Monday morning, Polish border guards warned migrants on the opposite aspect of the border over loudspeakers that pressure might be used towards them in the event that they disobey orders, after Poland and Lithuania reported they stopped over 100 folks every trying to enter on Sunday.

Arriving on the assembly in Brussels, EU overseas coverage chief Josep Borrell informed reporters the ministers would approve additional sanctions on Minsk on Monday. The EU may additionally search to broaden them to incorporate airways, journey brokers and different folks concerned in transporting migrants to Belarus.

Borrell stated he had informed the Belarusian overseas minister over the weekend that the scenario on the border was utterly unacceptable and that humanitarian assist was wanted.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was quoted as saying on Monday that Minsk would retaliate towards any new sanctions imposed on it by the West.

State information company Belta additionally quoted him as saying that Belarus is attempting to influence migrants residing in camps close to its western border to return dwelling, however with out success.

Hundreds of migrants have travelled to Belarus within the hope of crossing into the European Union, solely to seek out themselves trapped on the wooded border in bitter winter situations.

They moved in the direction of the Polish frontier final Monday, establishing a camp there and, in teams, trying to enter Poland and close by Lithuania quite a few instances.

Poland stated it had arrested 4 foreigners on Sunday trying to move 33 migrants in a foreign country.

EU members Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have warned the standoff may escalate right into a navy battle. Their presidents will meet in Vilnius on Monday to debate the disaster, and can communicate to Polish President Andrzej Duda by videolink.

Belarusian state-owned provider Belavia stated in a discover that the United Arab Emirates had barred Afghan, Syrian, Yemeni and Iraqi residents from flights to Minsk on Monday.

Arriving in Brussels, Lithuanian overseas minister Gabrielius Landsbergis stated the EU may assist with repatriations from Belarus again to the Center East.

He known as for all Belarusian airports to be off-limits for airways probably carrying would-be migrants, including: “We have to make Minsk airport a no-fly zone.”