Lithuania expands restrictions on goods transit to russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast

On July 10, a ban on the transit of russian-origin cement, alcohol, and several other goods via Lithuania into the territory of the European Union came into force.

Delfi reports the fourth package of EU sanctions stipulates it.

Sanctions are being implemented according to the regulation adopted by the EU and the assessments of the European Commission, and after consulting with the EU executive, the Lithuanian Customs has reported.

The restriction will also affect transit to Kaliningrad, although it was previously believed that there might be exceptions in the new European Commission's clarification on the application of sanctions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania emphasized that land transit between the Kaliningrad Oblast and other parts of the russian federation has not been stopped or blocked.

"Transit of passengers and goods that were not subject to EU sanctions continues. Lithuania has not imposed any unilateral, individual, or additional restrictions on this transit," the officials explained.

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On July 8, russia's foreign ministry stated that the solution to the situation with the restriction of transit to russia's Kaliningrad Oblast through Lithuania has been "delayed," and russia will not "wait forever."

We will remind you that Lithuania limited the transit of steel and ferrous metals to the Kaliningrad Oblast based on EU sanctions.

russia slammed Lithuania's actions and a blockade of Kaliningrad, a russian exclave sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania, as hostile and unilateral.

Lithuania, in its turn, rejected the allegations dismissing russia's information as propaganda and stressing that transit was subject to EU sanctions.

The media reported that the EU wanted to remove the transit from the sanctions not to annoy russia. At the same time, the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda, believes there should be no concessions to russia in this matter.

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