Washington Post: “Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko threatened Thursday to cut gas supplies to Europe if the European Union introduces new sanctions on Belarusian officials and entities, in a sharp escalation of tensions over a migration crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border. European leaders blame Lukashenko for orchestrating the crisis in retaliation for European sanctions. They accuse him of opening Belarusian borders to migrants, mainly from the Middle East, who are trying to reach Europe through Belarus. But they also face a mounting energy crisis, after gas prices soared due to low stocks in Europe, lower-than-expected wind power generation, increased demand in Asia and Russian reluctance to help bridge the shortfall. The migrant crisis has become a worrying flash point for tensions between Europe and Belarus, which is backed by its close ally Russia. Poland has deployed thousands of troops along the border, and Russia sent two long-range strategic bombers Wednesday to patrol the Belarusian border with Europe.”