After easing EU sanctions rules on freight transport to Russia’s Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad, Lithuania has now declared the dispute with Russia that has been dormant for weeks.
Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said in the capital Vilnius on Thursday: “It is not reasonable to divert our time and attention and discuss whether a kiloton of steel can be transported by rail from part of Russia to the Kaliningrad region.” Further arguments would be “a real victory for the Kremlin”.
“Focus must be on aid to Ukraine”
The emphasis should rather be on supporting Ukraine, which has been under attack by Russia since late February. The Baltic EU and NATO member Lithuania blocked the transport of sanctioned goods from Russia to Kaliningrad in mid-June. The area around the former Königsberg is spatially separated from the rest of the Russian state and can only be reached by land via the EU states of Poland and Lithuania.
Following protests and threats from Moscow, the European Commission has drawn up new guidelines for transit traffic to Kaliningrad. Russia is now allowed to bring civil goods that are on the sanctions list back through Lithuania by rail without major restrictions. However, Lithuania can still hold back freight traffic with strict controls. Longer queues of trucks formed at the border crossings on Wednesday, according to Lithuanian radio.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
