Kremlin slams Lithuania's decision on Kaliningrad blockade

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Jun 13:50
2 Shares

Kremlin calls out Lithuania's decision regarding the Kaliningrad blockade, calling it a "violation of everything."

Kremlin slams Lithuania's decision on the Kaliningrad blockade.

Lithuania's move to prohibit rail goods transit to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad is unprecedented, according to Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who described it as a "violation of everything."

State-owned Lithuanian Railways halted cargo transit between Russia and its Baltic Sea area on Friday at midnight, citing EU limitations. According to the region's officials, up to 50% of all rail goods to Kaliningrad have been banned.

Earlier on Monday, the local authorities said that commodities prohibited from transiting via Lithuania would be supplied by water. "The decision is truly unprecedented. This is a violation of everything. We understand that this is due to the relevant decision of the European Union to extend sanctions to transit. We also consider this illegal," Peskov told reporters.

The decision to blockade the Kaliningrad region requires extensive research by Moscow before adopting any retaliatory steps, the official said, adding that it will be completed within a few days.

Europe refuses to give Russia turbines under repair for gas crisis - Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov also said that Russia has enough gas and is ready to give it, but Europe has refused to return turbines that are being repaired, calling the present issue "man-made".

"You know that pumping capacities, namely turbines, must undergo major repairs, some turbines cannot be returned, that is, the Europeans will not return them to their place. This is precisely what is the reason for the fact that there is simply nothing to pump over. That is, this is a man-made crisis, it was created by the European Union," Peskov told reporters, adding that Russia has enough gas and is "ready to deliver it."

Kremlin confirms contact between Putin, Lukashenko

Contacts between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, are being planned, according to Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who added that the format will be revealed later.

Earlier this month, Lukashenko stated that he intends to meet with Putin to address the situation in Ukraine shortly.

"We will inform you [about the format[. Indeed, contacts between the two presidents are being prepared," Peskov told reporters.

NATO engaged in ‘direct aggression' against Russia

On his part, Senator Andrey Klimov stated in a Telegram message on Monday that Lithuania is now essentially engaged in "direct aggression" against Russia, citing Vilnius' decision to halt the transit of sanctioned commodities to Russia's exclave of Kaliningrad.

According to the Russian senator who heads a commission for the defense of state sovereignty, Lithuania has breached a pact struck between Moscow and Brussels 20 years ago by refusing to allow specific commodities to transit through its territory to the Russian region.

Klimov claimed that unless the EU pulls its member state to heel and forces it to obey the agreement, a significant question mark would linger over Lithuania's legal basis for membership in the bloc. The Senator stressed that in this case, Moscow would have a free hand to “solve the problem of the Kaliningrad transit created by Lithuania by any means chosen by us.”