With East-West relations in a low half-century due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Vilnius banned the transit of goods imposed by the European Union through Lithuanian territory to and from the enclave, citing EU sanctions rules. The Russian Foreign Ministry called on Lithuania’s top envoy to Moscow to protest, and the Kremlin said the situation was “extremely serious.” “The situation is more than serious,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov told reporters. “This decision is truly unprecedented. It is a violation of everything.” Russia’s foreign ministry has called on Vilnius to immediately reverse what it called an “openly hostile” move. “If the transit of cargo between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of the Russian Federation through Lithuania is not fully restored in the near future, then Russia reserves the right to take measures to protect its national interests,” he said. Kaliningrad, the former port of Koenigsberg, the capital of East Prussia, was occupied by Nazi Germany by the Red Army in April 1945 and ceded to the Soviet Union after World War II. It is among the members of NATO, Poland and Lithuania. Lithuania has said it is simply implementing EU sanctions as part of a series of measures aimed at punishing President Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine. “Lithuania is doing nothing: it is the European sanctions that have been in place since June 17,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told reporters in Luxembourg. “It was done after consulting the European Commission and in accordance with the European Commission guidelines,” Landsbergis said. Lithuania’s state railway has informed customers that goods such as steel and iron, which are subject to sanctions, will not be allowed on June 17, Landsbergis said. (Report by Reuters, Written by Guy Faulconbridge, Edited by Alex Richardson)
title: “Russia Warns Nato Member Lithuania Over Kaliningrad Crossing " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-14” author: “Sally Ovit”
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Kremlin: Situation ‘more than serious’ Lithuania says: this is the implementation of the EU decision Russia says it will defend its interests Russia says Lithuania is ‘openly hostile’
LONDON, June 20 (Reuters) – Russia has warned NATO member Lithuania that unless transit to Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave in the Baltic Sea is restored quickly, Moscow will take unknown measures to defend its national interests. With East-West relations in a low half-century due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Vilnius banned the transit of goods imposed by the European Union through Lithuanian territory to and from the enclave, citing EU sanctions rules. The Russian Foreign Ministry called on Lithuania’s top envoy to Moscow to protest, and the Kremlin said the situation was “extremely serious.” Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register “The situation is more than serious,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov told reporters. “This decision is truly unprecedented. It is a violation of everything.” Russia’s foreign ministry has called on Vilnius to immediately reverse what it called an “openly hostile” move. “If the transit of cargo between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of the Russian Federation through Lithuania is not fully restored in the near future, then Russia reserves the right to take measures to protect its national interests,” he said. Kaliningrad, the former port of Koenigsberg, the capital of East Prussia, was occupied by Nazi Germany by the Red Army in April 1945 and ceded to the Soviet Union after World War II. It is among the members of NATO, Poland and Lithuania. Lithuania has said it is simply implementing EU sanctions as part of a series of measures aimed at punishing President Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine. read more “Lithuania is doing nothing: it is the European sanctions that have been in place since June 17,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told reporters in Luxembourg. “It was done after consulting the European Commission and in accordance with the European Commission guidelines,” Landsbergis said. Lithuania’s state railway has informed customers that goods such as steel and iron, which are subject to sanctions, will not be allowed on June 17, Landsbergis said. European Commission Vice President Valdis Dobrovskis said he had spoken to Lithuanian President Gitana Nauseda, who said Vilnius was applying EU sanctions. “Obviously we really need to gather all the facts and the consequences, but as President Nauseda said, what Lithuania is doing is implementing EU sanctions,” Dombrovskis said. “So in this case, indeed, when it comes to enforcing EU sanctions, it is clear that we have to be with our Member States that apply the sanctions.” Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report by Reuters. Guy Faulconbridge writes. Edited by Alex Richardson and Philippa Fletcher Our role models: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
