The European Union tried yesterday Tuesday to contain the anger of Russia with the Baltic republic of Lithuania, but without success. Moscow continued to warn that the limitation to the transit of goods by rail between its enclave of Kaliningrad and the rest of the country is unacceptable and will have “serious consequences”, which translates into retaliatory measures that the Russian authorities have not specified but assure that they will apply. coming soon and will affect the Lithuanian population.
The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the head of the EU delegation in Russia, Markus Ederer. During the 20-minute meeting with Alexánder Grushkó, deputy foreign minister, the ambassador explained “the EU’s position of principle regarding Russian aggression in relation to Ukraine” and explained that the measures adopted by Lithuania are not a blockade. The transit of goods not included in the EU sanctions continues to work “normally” through Lithuania, he said.
“We have exchanged opinions on the situation. I have had the opportunity to clearly point out the position of the EU, that it is not a transit ban, it is not a blockade,” said the German diplomat. And he defended that the Vilnius government did not take any action unilaterally against Moscow, but rather put into practice the sanctions that Brussels has taken against Russia in response to the military campaign that the Kremlin launched in February against Ukraine.
Since last Saturday, June 18, Lithuania began to prevent the passage by rail of the goods included in these sanctions. This includes, among others, metals, construction materials such as cement, fuel and products for the aerospace industry or technological equipment for the liquefaction of natural gas.
From the Lithuanian capital, its Prime Minister, Ingrida Simonyte, and the Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landbergis, insisted that there is no blockade, as Moscow affirms. According to Landbergis, it is about “the Russian narrative, which is part of their fight against the West: choosing a target to mobilize their society.”
Ederer asked that the situation not worsen, and that it be resolved through diplomatic channels.
But for now, Russia maintains its position. Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov on Monday called the Lithuanian decision “illegal” and “unprecedented.” The spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zajárova, maintained that Vilnius acted aggressively and that she must understand that Moscow “is no longer up to (holding) talks.”
Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, assured yesterday that the response given by the Russian Government will have serious consequences for the population of Lithuania. “Russia will undoubtedly react to these hostile actions. The corresponding measures are studied in an inter-institutional format and will be approved shortly. Its consequences will have a serious impact on the population of Lithuania”, he stated from Kaliningrad, where he traveled to address the problem of accessibility to transport with the regional authorities.
Kaliningrad, formerly Königsberg, is a Russian enclave on the Baltic Sea coast sandwiched between two EU and NATO member states, Poland and Lithuania, and cut off from the rest of the country. Through the territory of Lithuania it receives supplies from other regions of Russia by rail and natural gas through pipeline. Governor Anton Alikhanov, who assessed the blocked cargoes at between 40% and 50%, said on Saturday that to make up for it, the region will have to rely on supplies by sea from St. Petersburg.
