Lithuanian authorities have banned the transit of goods imposed by the European Union through its territory, which includes the only railway route between mainland Russia and the Kaliningrad enclave in the Baltic Sea. Prohibited goods include coal, metals, building materials and advanced technology. “This decision is truly unprecedented. It is a violation of everything,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov told a news conference on Monday. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register “We consider it illegal. The situation is more than serious … we need a serious in-depth analysis to work out our response,” he added. Divided between EU and NATO members Poland and Lithuania, Kaliningrad receives supplies from Russia via rail and gas pipelines through Lithuania. The governor of Kaliningrad estimated that the ban could affect up to half of all goods transported to the region by rail. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report by Reuters Edited by Gareth Jones, William Maclean Our role models: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
