Trucks halted at Poland-Belarus border as EU sanctions deadline looms

On the Poland-Belarus border, a massive queue of trucks has developed as Russian and Belarussian drivers attempt to exit the EU ahead of a sanctions deadline.

The queue was expanded to 80 kilometers (60 miles) in the run-up to the Saturday deadline, with some vehicles held for up to 33 hours.

The EU has barred vehicles from Russia and Belarus from entering or remaining in the bloc, with the exception of those transporting medication, mail, or petroleum products.

The measure is part of sanctions against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Drone footage supplied by Reuters news agency showed huge lineups continuing as the midnight deadline drew.

“There are still many kilometers to travel… therefore it’s unrealistic,” it cited a Belarusian motorist on his odds of crossing the border in time.

And hours after the deadline passed, the waiting periods had been lowered to 12 hours, says the BBC’s Adam Easton in Warsaw, with the number of trucks at two border crossings between 230-400 vehicles.

However, it is unclear what would happen to hundreds of other vehicles from the two nations thought to now be on EU territory.

One possibility is that they will be confiscated by national authorities.

A Polish official representing transport organizations voiced fear that such a step may lead to similar prohibitions against Polish vehicles using Russia and Belarus on their way back home.

The EU – and many other Western countries – have slapped punitive sanctions against Russia, and its primary ally Belarus.

The two nations have retaliated with measures of their own.