Russia has moved to open up threats across the European Union after Lithuania restricted travel to the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation.
The sanctions for the invasion of Ukraine are becoming more painful for the Russian Federation. From Saturday, June 18, Lithuania stopped transit trains carrying goods subject to European Union sanctions through its territory. Thus, Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave on the shores of the Baltic Sea, found itself without communication with the Russian Federation. In response, Russia threatened the EU with war, but it didn’t particularly bother anyone.
Actions of Lithuania
The governor of Russia’s Kaliningrad region, Anton Alikhanov, said Lithuania had stopped allowing transit trains with goods that fell under European Union sanctions. From the letter of the Lithuanian carrier LTG Cargo, published by Alikhanov, it follows that the company has received an explanation from the European Commission on the sanctions.
According to him, even if sanctioned goods and cargoes go from one part of Russia to another, but through EU territory, their transportation should still be banned.
“According to our estimates, we have not finished the analysis yet from 40 to 50% of the range of goods transported between the Kaliningrad region and other regions of the Russian Federation. This is included building materials, cement, metal, a number of other essential for both construction and production, finished productsexported from our territory, ”said the governor of the Kaliningrad region.
According to the agreement between the EU and Russia, the Kaliningrad transit program provides for the simplified transit of people from the territory of Russia to the Kaliningrad region and back to Lithuania. It has been operating since July 2003. On average, 100 Russian transit trains pass through Lithuania each month.
On Monday, June 20, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Russia’s Charge d’Affaires Sergei Ryabokon and explained to him the restrictions that apply to the transfer of goods in the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation.
“During the meeting, the information disseminated by the Russian representatives that Lithuania had banned travel to the Kaliningrad region was refuted,” the department said.
They stressed that the transportation of passengers and goods not subject to EU sanctions to and from the Kaliningrad region through the territory of Lithuania continues as usual.
“Lithuania has not imposed any unilateral, personal or additional travel restrictions,” the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry stressed.
The ministry recalled that according to the fourth package of EU sanctions, from June 17, the import and export of steel and steel products to Russia through the EU will be prohibited.
Hysteria in Russia
The Federation Council of the Russian Federation has said that Russia will have a “free hand to resolve the issue in any way” if the EU does not correct the situation with the “siege of Kaliningrad”.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the situation “unprecedented” and the decision illegal, noting that Russia has not yet decided on a response. The tone of the statement by the head of the Federation Council Commission for the Protection of Sovereignty Andrey Klimov has bordered on profanity across the EU: “The European Union, if it does not immediately correct Vilnius’ rude deception, will reject legitimacy. of all documents on Lithuanian membership in the EU for us and will remove our hands to solve Lithuania created the problems of Kaliningrad transit in any way we choose, “said Klimov.
His colleague, Federation Council member Andrey Klishas, also did not choose the words: “An attempt to establish a de facto blockade in the Kaliningrad region of Lithuania is a violation of Russia’s sovereignty in this region. and could be the basis for very tough and fully legal action on the part of Russia, ”he said. he.
Moreover, Klishas saw the ban on the transit of goods authorized by Russia through Lithuania as a threat to the Russian Federation from NATO.
The reaction of Ukraine and the EU
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba reminded that no one should blame Russia for the current situation, but itself.
“The Russian Federation has no right to threaten Lithuania. Only Moscow is to blame for the consequences of an unreasonable and unjust invasion of Ukraine. We accept Lithuania’s principled position and firmly support our Lithuanian friends, “Kuleba wrote on Twitter.
At the same time, chief diplomat Josep Borrell has not yet predicted a new round of serious tension in relations with the Russian Federation due to the cessation of transit in the Kaliningrad region.
“You can’t compare the situation in Kaliningrad to the situation in Ukraine for the world community … The situation in Kaliningrad will not affect the rest of the world, but the rest of the world will be affected by the situation happening in Ukraine,” Borrell explained.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.