MINSK, 23 November 2021, (TON): Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said that the European Union was refusing to discuss the fate of 2,000 migrants wishing to go to Europe and stranded in Belarus.

The West accuses Belarus of bringing in would-be migrants, mostly from the Middle East and taking them to areas along its borders with EU members Poland and Lithuania with promises of an easy crossing.

Belarus denies the claim, instead criticizing the EU for not taking in the migrants.

"I am waiting for the EU to respond on the issue of 2,000 refugees," Lukashenko told officials, adding that he expected Europe to let the migrants in.

"They said “(German Chancellor Angela) Merkel promised me that they will consider this problem at the level of the European Union. But they are not doing it.”

Lukashenko said European officials refused any contact on the subject despite calls from the Belarusian foreign minister.

Lukashenko said "we should demand that the Germans take them in.”

German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Monday that Berlin made clear last week that was not acceptable.

He said "the idea that there could be a humanitarian corridor to Germany for 2,000 migrants... is not an acceptable solution for Germany or the EU.”