Putin denies his country's connection to the Belarus-Poland borders crisis 

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin denied the existence of his country's relationship with the migration crisis at the border between Belarus and Poland.  

 Putin has condemned accusations by Poland and others that Russia is working with Belarus to send migrants to the borders of the European Union.  

"I want everyone to know that we have nothing to do with it," he said in a newspaper interview. 

Putin also indicated that "European leaders should hold talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to resolve the crisis," stressing: "As I understand, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is ready to do this." 

He added, "We must not forget the source of these immigrant-related crises... (from) Western countries, including European ones.". 

In an area that does not officially belong to any country, migrants were stuck at the border in the near-freezing heat, where they set up tents and used firewood to keep warm. 

Belarus talks about the presence of about 2,000 people in the camp, including a pregnant woman and children, while Poland indicates that there are between 3,000 and 4,000 migrants at the border, with more arriving daily.