Kaliningrad proposes ban on movement of goods from Baltic states

Kaliningrad’s governor says the transfer would act as a response to the ‘blockade’ by Lithuania.

The governor of Russia’s Kaliningrad area has proposed a complete ban on the motion of products between Russia and the Baltic states in response to what authorities within the exclave have known as a “blockade” by Lithuania.

“As a reciprocal measure, we suggest to fully prohibit the motion of products [including those in transit from third countries] between the three Baltic States and Russia,” Governor Anton Alikhanov stated, referring to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

“This may present actions to [our] maritime carriers and provides work to Kaliningrad ports, which have been hit arduous by the EU restrictions,” he added.

Lithuania on Monday expanded restrictions on commerce by its territory to the exclave as phase-ins of earlier introduced European Union sanctions towards Moscow took impact.

The EU commerce restrictions have been upgraded as governments, markets and firms fear Russia might select to increase the shut-off of the most important single pipeline carrying Russian fuel to Germany past a deliberate 10-day upkeep interval.

Check of resolve

Kaliningrad borders NATO and EU member states Lithuania and Poland and depends on railways and roads by Lithuania for many items.

The coastal territory has been minimize off from some freight transport from mainland Russia since June 17 beneath the EU sanctions regime.

Items that fall inside humanitarian or important classes, corresponding to meals, are exempted from the sanctions.

The dispute over the isolation of Kaliningrad is testing Europe’s resolve to implement the sanctions amid fears of an escalating confrontation with Russia after different restrictions pushed Moscow to default on its debt.

EU officers, with Germany’s backing, sought in late June a swift compromise to resolve the standoff.

Nonetheless, sources informed the Reuters information company that Lithuania, as soon as dominated from Moscow inside the previous Soviet Union, had critical reservations about making what could possibly be seen as a concession to the Kremlin.