Russia warns Lithuania over Kaliningrad restrictions | Russia-Ukraine war News

Moscow decries ‘brazenly hostile’ transfer to restrict the circulation of EU-sanctioned items to Russian exclave, as Lithuania defends measures.

Russia’s overseas ministry has demanded the fast lifting of Lithuania’s “brazenly hostile” restrictions on the rail transit of EU-sanctioned items to Moscow’s exclave of Kaliningrad.

Sandwiched between European Union and NATO members Poland and Lithuania, Kaliningrad receives provides from Russia by way of rail and gasoline pipelines via Lithuania.

The Baltic nation of Lithuania introduced final week that it was banning the rail transit of products which are topic to EU sanctions from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad.

The checklist contains coal, metals, development supplies and superior expertise.

“If within the close to future cargo transit between the Kaliningrad area and the remainder of the territory of the Russian Federation via Lithuania shouldn’t be restored in full, then Russia reserves the suitable to take actions to guard its nationwide pursuits,” the Russian overseas ministry stated in a press release on Monday.

The ministry stated it had summoned Lithuania’s cost d’affaires in Moscow to protest the “provocative” and “brazenly hostile” measures.

Earlier on Monday, the Kremlin stated Lithuania’s determination was “unprecedented” and “in violation of every little thing there may be”.

“The state of affairs is greater than critical and it requires a really deep evaluation earlier than formulating any measures and choices,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov instructed reporters.

Lithuanian International Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis defended the transfer and stated his nation was merely implementing sanctions imposed by the EU, of which it’s a member.

He stated the measures had been taken after “session with the European Fee and below its pointers”.

“Sanctioned items (will) not be allowed to transit Lithuanian territory,” Landsbergis added.

In keeping with Kaliningrad governor Anton Alikhanov, the ban would have an effect on about 50 % of all imports to the exclave.

The ban was confirmed on Friday by the cargo arm of Lithuania’s state railway service in a letter to purchasers following “clarification” from the European Fee on the mechanism for making use of the sanctions.

Urging residents to not resort to panic shopping for, Alikhanov stated two vessels had been already ferrying items between Kaliningrad and Saint Petersburg, and 7 extra can be in service by the top of the 12 months.

“Our ferries will deal with all of the cargo”, he stated on Saturday.

Residence to the headquarters of Russia’s Baltic sea fleet, the exclave was captured from Nazi Germany by the Purple Military in April 1945 and ceded to the Soviet Union after World Conflict II.