Ashley Webster of FOX Business reports from Poland on the protest against trade with Russia.
Poland’s protesters have disrupted a key trade route between the country and Belarus by barring trucks from entering in a bid to halt trade with Russia as the war in Ukraine rages on.
A group of protesters blocked the road at the Koroszczyn border crossing, demanding a trade ban with Russia and its ally Belarus.
FOX Business’ Ashley Webster reported on the protest from Koroszczyn, where he referred to “Varney & Co.” that as Ukrainian anti-war activists blocked the entrance for trucks on the Poland-Belarus border, traffic was held back for 30 miles Tuesday and included more than 1,500 trucks.
He also reported that many of the protesters are displaced Ukrainian refugees and support has been ongoing for several weeks.
Webster noted that “tempers flared up” earlier Tuesday when angry drivers confronted the protesters.
BIDEN DEMANDS AN END TO NORMAL RUSSIAN TRADE RELATIONS, A BAN ON THE IMPORTS OF SEAFOOD, VODKA AND DIAMOND
Protesters reportedly argued that the trucks would not be allowed to cross the border because they would stimulate trade, which in turn would generate money for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The protesters also reportedly stressed that the trade route was a way for Russian President Vladimir Putin to evade sanctions and import goods through the cargo lines and should therefore not be allowed.
Bill Browder, CEO of Hermitage Capital Management, argues that “when the West is done, we will have a complete blockade of Russia economically.”
The United States and its Western allies have imposed crippling sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, including sanctions on Russian banks, oligarchs and President Vladimir Putin himself. Western sanctions are dealing a serious blow to Russia’s economy.
Webster reported that the trucks will be allowed to cross the border from Tuesday, but protesters are appealing to the European Union to cut off the trade route between Poland and Belarus and Russia.
Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called on the EU to halt all land and sea trade with Russia while commenting on the protest on Saturday.
The former deputy defense secretary joined “Kudlow” to discuss sanctions against Russia as Putin’s war on Ukraine continues.
Webster said he spoke to a Russian truck driver named Alexander who was hauling a load of frozen potatoes. The driver said he had nothing to do with the war but was just trying to make a living to support his family.
“It’s not for the war, it’s just for our family,” he said, adding, “We [are] to do this work for people, not for Russia.”
The latest round of protests, which have been going on in eastern Poland for about two weeks, began early Saturday.
FOX Business’ Ashley Webster reported live from the Poland-Belarus border as protesters disrupted a key shipping route.
About 950 trucks were waiting to cross into Belarus early Sunday, according to a spokesman for the local tax office, who noted the wait was 32 hours.
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Police were called to the scene as they separated the protesters from the trucks and drivers, road infrastructure authorities said.
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Bradford Betz of FOX Business and The Associated Press contributed to this report.