Lithuania refuses to agree to concessions on transit of Russian goods via Kaliningrad

In an escalatory move that could provoke  Russia-NATO conflict, Lithuania on Sunday refused to agree on giving any concessions on ban of  transit of Russian goods through neighbouring Kaliningrad enclave. “Lithuania must and will maintain control over goods transported through its territory, and re can be talk of any ‘corridors,’ as well as concessions to Russia in response to Kremlin’s threats,” Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda said in a post on Sunday.

Nauseda furrmore stressed that Kaliningrad transit has been freely operating since 2004 when Lithuania joined European Union, and that transit terms and conditions were discussed in EU-Russia agreement.

'Implementing fourth pack of EU sanctions': Lithuania President Gitanas Nauseda

Blatic state Lithuania proposed that  EU is t unilaterally responsible for  implementation of sanctions. "What's new in this topic is that European Union and Lithuania [are both cooperatively] and actively participating in implementing  fourth pack of sanctions against Russia, '' said Lithuanian leader. Kaliningrad is situated on Baltic Sea and also widely uses rail link to Russia via Lithuania, which according to Moscow has been blocked by Lithuania. 

Lithuanian leader also discussed issue with President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels. "It is absolutely clear that Lithuania must implement and will implement EU sanctions," he once again clarified. Nauseda added that Lithuania must maintain and will maintain control of goods transported through its territory and "re can be talk of any corridor" or "any thought of degrading Russia in response to Kremlin's threats. I would clearly explain to chairman of EC how Lithuania sees this situation," said Blatic state's president. 

Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte earlier also rejected claim at a state conference that her country blocked rail route saying that it banned transit of steel and or ferrous metals in accordance with EU sanctions only.  And that this measure does t involve rail and freights for passengers, although an estimated 1% Russian travellers were impacted. 

"Lithuania is complying with sanctions imposed by European Union on Russia for its aggression and war against Ukraine," PM said. 

While Russia warned that it is "fully determined" to retaliate against unilateral transit blockade of its goods via Kaliningrad by Baltic state Lithuania, it added that it will “t rush to make decisions.”Russia President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Tass that Moscow’s stance is “absolutely correct” with respect to Kaliningrad issue, which in fact is a provocation. But he added, saying that re’s “ need to rush here.”  Although Peskov iterated that at same time, Russia has been “full of determination and will take some time before certain decisions are made.”  

"We are analysing this situation in a most serious way. Via Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we are delivering our [position] to our opponents," said Putin’s spokesperson Peskov. "In this situation, we are absolutely right.” "Regretfully, y are t our partners any longer, y are our opponents w," he added.