Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Russia denounces Lithuania. The country called Lithuania “openly hostile” to Moscow.
This relates to restrictions on the rail transit of goods approved by the European Union (EU) to Kaliningrad. This is a Russian territory bordering Lithuania and Poland.
The Russian Foreign Ministry demanded the immediate lifting of the restrictions. If not, Russia said it would take decisive action.
“If in the near future the transit of cargo between the Kaliningrad region and the territory of the Russian Federation via Lithuania is not fully restored, then Russia reserves the right to take measures to protect its national interests,” the ministry said in a statement Monday. AFP.
The ministry said it had summoned the Lithuanian charge d’affaires in Moscow to protest. Russia called the move “provocative”.
Earlier in a different statement, the Kremlin said Lithuania’s decision was “unprecedented”. That, Russia insists, violates all existing rules.
“The situation is more than serious and requires a very thorough analysis before formulating any actions and decisions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Last week, the Baltic state of Lithuania announced it would ban transit of EU-sanctioned freight trains from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad. The list includes coal, metals, construction materials, and advanced technology.
According to the Governor of Kaliningrad AntonAlikhanov, the ban will affect about 50% of all imports. It should be noted that although the Kaliningrad region is part of Russia, it is separated from the mother country, 1,200 kilometers (km) from Moscow.
Relations between Moscow and Lithuania – and their Baltic neighbors Latvia and Estonia – have indeed deteriorated over the years. That was driven by Russia’s rising tensions with the West.
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