News Highlights
The Kremlin called Lithuania’s decision to ban the transit of some goods to Russia’s Kaliningrad region ‘unprecedented’ and vowed to respond.
Focus Points
- Lithuanian authorities banned the transit of goods which are sanctioned by the European Union across its territory, which includes the only rail route between mainland Russia and the Kaliningrad exclave on the Baltic Sea.
- Banned goods include coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology.
Russia Stand
- The move by Lithuania was described as “unprecedented” in Moscow .
- The Russian foreign office said they reserved the right to respond to protect their national interest.
- Russia summoned Lithuania’s chief diplomatic representative in Moscow for a formal protest and alleged that the Baltic nation was acting in breach of international agreements.
Lithuania Stand
- The land transit between Kaliningrad and other parts of Russia has not been banned
- Second, transit of people and goods that are not sanctioned continues.
- Third, Lithuania has not taken any unilateral national restrictions.
Where is Kaliningrad?
- It is the largest city and the administrative centre of Kaliningrad Oblast
- Border
- North and East – Lithuania
- South – Poland
- River in the Region – Pregolya River
- Sea – Baltic Sea
- History
- It was captured from Nazi Germany by the Red Army in April 1945 and ceded to the Soviet Union at the end of the war.
Lithuania
- Capital – Vilnius
- It is a country in the Baltic region of Europe.
- It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea.
- Borders
- North – Latvia
- East and South – Belarus
- South – Poland
- Southwest – Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia
- Maritime Borders
- West – Sweden
Why Lithuania Move Concern for Russia?
- Kaliningrad is about 800 miles (1,300km) from Moscow and relies on much of its supplies coming in by rail.
- Kaliningrad, where Russia’s Baltic Sea fleet has its headquarters, has a population of about 500,000 people.
Lithuania and USSR
- In between 1920 to 1991 Lithuania was part of the USSR but after disintegration the baltic country of Lithuania was formed.
- In the year of 2001 it become part of US led military alliance NATO which rises concern for Russian Federation
Lithuania Support Sanctions on Russia Issue
- As part of imposing pressure on Russia on the background of Ukraine invasion the European Union imposed sanctions on Russia as a continuation Lithuania imposed restrictions on limited goods to the Russian enclave called Kaliningrad to the Baltic sea.
Content Source : The Hindu