Lithuania defends ban on some goods to Russia’s Kaliningrad

Monday’s defense of its decision to block rail transit from Russia to a Russian Baltic Sea exclave for goods subject to European Union sanctions was defended by Lithuania. This move drew strong anger from Moscow amid high tensions in the area.

Gabrielius Landsbergis is the Lithuanian Foreign Minister saidHis country was only implementing sanctions imposed on it by the EU, which it is a member. He saidThe European Commission consulted and approved the measures that were taken on Saturday.

Landsbergis stated that sanctioned goods will no longer be permitted to transit Lithuanian territory.

Steel is the only item on the list. However, it is expected that the list will be broadened to include other items, such as coal and alcoholic drinks.

The Kaliningrad exclave is home to around 430,000 people. It is bordered by Lithuania and Poland to the south, and is isolated from the rest Russia. Kaliningrad trains with goods travelvia Belarus and Lithuania. There is no transit through Poland. Russia can still supply the exclave via sea without being subject to EU sanctions.

Russia demanded that Lithuania lift the ban immediately. Moscow’s Foreign Ministry stated that if transport links are not fully restored, Russia reserves the right to take measures to protect its national interests.

Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson strongly condemned the “unlawful ban.”

“This decision, which is indeed unprecedented, is a violation to all and then some. We understand that it is linked to the relevant European Union decision to extend the sanctions for transit (of good). Peskov also stated that this was illegal.

The foreign ministry summoned Lithuania’s chief diplomat representative in Moscow to protest the claim that the Baltic nation was violating international agreements. Since April, Lithuania’s ambassador to Moscow has been absent. This was in protest at the deaths of civilians in Ukraine by Russian forces following the February 24 invasion.

Later, Lithuania summoned the Russian envoy to Vilnius to inform him that the ban was in compliance with EU sanctions and that there was no blockade against Kaliningrad.

Josep Borrell is the EU’s top diplomat. saidLithuania’s move should not have been compared to Ukraine’s. “The situation in Kaliningrad won’t affect the rest, but it is very much affecting the rest,” he said. said.

Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, tweeted that Russia has no right to threaten Lithuania. Moscow is the only one responsible for the unprovoked and unjustified invasion in Ukraine.

Monday will see the introduction of Lithuanian customs saidThe sanctions, which went into effect in June, were part the fourth EU sanction package that was imposed on March 15.

Lina Laurinaityte Grigiene is a spokeswoman for customs. saidThe affected items include Russian steel that cannot be transported over the European Union’s borders.

“The land transport between Kaliningrad and other Russian regions is not impeded or blocked. All goods that aren’t under sanctions travelShe says, “Freely,” said.

She also stated that similar sanctions will be in place on concrete and alcohol goods starting July 10, as well as on coal starting Aug. 10, and no Russian oil entering EU territory beginning December.

Anton Alikhanov (the governor of the Russian exclave) has estimated that the ban will affect approximately 50% of all goods moving by rail towards Kaliningrad. He also saidHe would urge the Russian authorities to take appropriate measures against Lithuania, and would advocate for more goods being shipped by sea.

Kaliningrad, Russia’s only ice-free Baltic port, is home to the Russian Baltic Fleet. Moscow also has deployed there nuclear-capable Iskander Missiles.

The EU has placed restrictions on Russia’s imports and exports as part of its economic sanctions. The bloc saidIt has taken care not to cause harm to the Russian population by excluding products that are related to food, pharma, medicine, and agriculture. The list of sanctioned goods includes up to 90% of oil imports, steel, iron, caviar, and vodka. The EU’s customs officials enforce bans.

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Jan M. Olsen from Copenhagen, Denmark and Samuel Petrequin from Brussels contributed to this article.

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