On Tuesday, the head of the Russian Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, visited the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad to “discuss national security.”
It happens the day after Russia issued a clear warning to Lithuania.
They demand that Lithuania immediately lift import restrictions on the transport of goods to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, which has no land connection to the rest of Russia.
Transport must therefore go through one of the two EU countries, Poland or Lithuania on the Baltic Sea – and Lithuania has blocked rail transport between Russia and Kaliningrad.
They are required to do so as a result of EU sanctions.
Russia warns Lithuania
Russia has repeatedly threatened that it will not hesitate to respond if its demand is not met.
“They have to understand the consequences of this, and unfortunately that will be the case,” said Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry. according to the RIA.
EU Ambassador dismissive
Same day reports RIA that the EU ambassador to Russia, Markus Ederer, has been called to the rug by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in connection with the EU sanctions, which now affect Kaliningrad.
According to the news agency, Ederer has denied that the EU will intervene against the blockade, and instead asks Russia to resolve the matter diplomatically.
He thus confirmed that the blockade is being maintained.
At the same time, Reuters reports that the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stated that he supports Lithuania’s blockade.
– The sanctions against Russia harm us, but they are important, Scholz is said to have stated.
WARNING: Maria Zakharova, head of communications at the Russian Foreign Ministry, warns of the consequences that will come if Lithuania does not lift the ban on the transport of goods from Lithuania to Kaliningrad. Photo: Maksim Konstantinov / SOPA Images / Shutterstock
sea view
Races back
After Russia’s demands were rejected by EU Ambassador Ederer, security chief Patrushev issued another warning to the neighboring country.
“It will seriously affect the Lithuanian people, and Russia will respond quickly,” he said. according to the RIA.
Patrushev also promised that the Russian border would be further secured, “in light of new threats”, and also pointed out, among other things, Finland and Sweden’s possible NATO membership.
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