EU on border funds boost, Stoltenberg on Belarus

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday reaffirmed her commitment to tripling border management funds for Latvia, Poland and Lithuania, where tensions have risen over migrants trying to enter the 27-member bloc.

Speaking during a joint visit with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg to the Latvian capital Riga, von der Leyen said funds to the three Baltic states were being increased to 200 million euros ($226.4 million) over this year and the coming year.

These will be used to fund equipment including drones and patrol vehicles to help manage what she called a "hybrid attack" waged by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

Von der Leyen also called for a new "situational awareness center" to help EU nations pool their intelligence in order to counter such attacks.

The EU has accused Lukashenko of using migrants to destabilise the bloc in revenge for sanctions targeting him over a contested election last year.

Stoltenberg said combat-ready battle groups were stationed in the Baltic region for the first time, alongside air policing and naval forces.

He said Russia's military buildup on the Ukraine border was "unjustified" and called on Moscow to take steps to reduce tensions.

"We stand ready to defend all allies and we will continue to provide our partner, Ukraine, with political and practical support," he said.

IMAGE: AP