Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said he plans to begin returning Lithuanian and Polish trucks stranded in Belarus as early as Monday, according to the state-run news agency BelTA.
“I will make a decision, and I think from Monday we will start the process of returning these trucks,” Lukashenko was quoted as saying. “We will return them. I feel sorry for the Poles and Lithuanians.”
He also indicated that the daily parking fee imposed on the vehicles – currently 120 euros per truck or trailer – could be reduced to what he described as a “symbolic” amount, likely aligned with operational costs.
Lithuanian carriers say they have not yet received official confirmation from Minsk. Erlandas Mikėnas, head of the National Road Carriers Association Linava, said the information so far has come through Belarusian media and industry contacts.
He said Lithuanian carriers who recently travelled to Belarus and met officials were told the parking fee would indeed be lowered.
“As I see from Belarusian media, I think the trucks could start returning by the middle of next week,” Mikėnas said.
He added that the move could finally resolve a months-long crisis that has divided the transport sector.
“I feel calmer knowing the trucks will return to Lithuania. Perhaps we will finally close this four-month issue, because, frankly, everyone is exhausted,” he said.
However, Mikėnas warned of new challenges, including potential congestion at border crossings and the capacity of Lithuanian customs to process the returning vehicles without long delays.
“Given current border throughput, all vehicles could end up in queues, and it may take another month before all carriers return,” he said.
The issue dates back to late October, when Lithuania closed its border in response to a spike of smuggler balloon traffic, claiming the Belarus government was orchestrating it. In turn, Belarus detained Lithuanian trucks in designated parking areas and would not release them even when the border was reopened. It has been charging daily fees and warning they could be confiscated after four months.
Minsk has been demanding direct ministerial talks with Vilnius to resolve the issue, but Lithuania has refused.
According to Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre, at least 550 Lithuanian trucks and trailers had not returned home by late February, based on a list provided by Linava, while 868 had already been recovered. More recent data from Linava suggests about 1,472 vehicles remain stranded, though earlier estimates put the total at around 4,000.
The developments follow recent diplomatic contacts, including a meeting between Lukashenko and US envoy John Coale, as well as talks between Belarusian Prime Minister Alexander Turchin and representatives of Lithuanian and Polish carriers.
Belarus has said it seeks a “constructive agreement” on the issue, though Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry has described such outreach as part of a broader “hybrid pressure” campaign.
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