NATO engaged in ‘direct aggression’ against Russia, Moscow must defend itself – senatorThe bloc is forcing Moscow to apply adequate self-defense, Andrey Klimov said after Lithuania blocked the transit of sanctioned goods to Russia’s exclave of Kaliningrad
NATO member state Lithuania is now effectively engaged in “direct aggression” against Russia, senator Andrey Klimov argued in his Telegram post on Monday, citing Vilnius’ decision to stop the transit of sanctioned goods to Russia’s exclave of Kaliningrad.
According to the Russian politician, who heads a commission for the defense of state sovereignty, by refusing to let certain goods pass through its territory to the Russian region, Lithuania has violated a treaty signed between Moscow and Brussels 20 years ago.
Unless the EU brings its member state to heel and forces it to respect the accord, a huge question mark would be hanging over the legal basis for Lithuania’s membership in the bloc, Klimov argued. 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.”
Klimov went on to quote from the ‘Joint statement on transit between Kaliningrad Region and the rest of the Russian Federation’ dated November 11, 2002. The document, among other things, stated that the “parties acknowledge the unique position of Kaliningrad region as part of Russia separated from the rest of the Federation’s territory by other states.” Bearing this in mind, the signatories agreed to “make special efforts to allay both sides’ concerns with respect to the future transit of people and goods,” the senator pointed out.
The Russian lawmaker added that the uninterrupted transit from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad Region was guaranteed when Lithuania joined NATO back in 2004.
Klimov warned that the military alliance is “de jure starting with the hands of one of its member states an unacceptable blockade” of a Russian region.
さてロシアはどう出る?
'Casus belli': What Kaliningrad blockade means for RussiaThe transit of some goods through Lithuania has been blocked, raising concerns over shortages in Russia's exclave
Lithuania blocked the rail transit of some Russian goods to the country’s Kaliningrad Region on Saturday. Vilnius authorities explained the move by stating that the goods in question were sanctioned by Brussels in connection with the conflict in Ukraine, and therefore can no longer pass through EU territory even if they travel from one part of Russia to another.
Why is that important?
Kaliningrad Region is a Russian exclave in Europe, sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania along the Baltic Coast. Its position in the heart of Europe enables it to easily deliver Russian goods to any part of the EU bloc. As an exclave, or a territory which belongs to Russia but is geographically separated from the mainland, it should be granted full access to and from mainland Russia under international law. Therefore, some analysts suggest that Lithuania’s move to block Russia’s access to its own territory could, to some extent, be considered a ‘casus belli’ – a cause for the declaration of war.
Why did Lithuania block transit?
According to Lithuanian officials, the decision was made after getting the approval of the European Commission, EU’s main governing body. Many countries, including EU member states, imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in response to its military operation in Ukraine in late February. The European bloc, among other things, banned the entry of a number of Russian goods to the EU. Vilnius’ move is allegedly meant to enforce these bans.
Is the transit of all goods blocked?
No, only the goods sanctioned by Brussels were denied passage. Among them are crude oil and oil products, coal, metals, construction materials, advanced technology, glassware, some foods and fertilizers, alcohol, etc. According to the region's governor, Anton Alikhanov, the ban means that as much as 50% of all goods destined for Kaliningrad could be blocked.
Can the block result in supply shortages in the region?
Not necessarily, as the passage via the Baltic Sea is still open for Russia to use. According to Kaliningrad officials, as well as the heads of most retail chains, the region is well-stocked in food and supplies and would not suffer from delivery setbacks for three to six months. A significant portion of meat, dairy, and fish is produced in the region, and, according to the head of the region’s main port, Elena Zaitseva, Kaliningrad has even exported some corn, wheat, and rapeseed in recent years.
Is there a threat to tourism/passenger traffic?
No threat for now. While passenger trains from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad through Lithuania were halted back in early April, four major Russian airlines maintain Moscow-Kaliningrad flights. Sea ferries are also available, while reports state that Russian officials are currently working on launching passenger sea routes through the Baltic.
Lithuania changes tune on Kaliningrad blockade
Vilnius insists it did not introduce any additional restrictions but is actually adhering to EU sanctions
リトアニア外務省は月曜日、ロシア本土とポーランドとリトアニアに挟まれたロシアの飛び地であるカリーニングラード間の多くの物品の輸送に対するEU制裁の適用について説明したメモを、同国のモスクワの代理大使に手渡した。
ビリニュスは、飛び地とロシアの他の地域との間の通過を全面的に禁止したわけではなく、いかなる追加的な制限も導入していないと主張している。リトアニアは、EU制裁の対象ではない旅客や物品の通過は、通常通り自国領土を通過すると主張している。
"リトアニアはトランジットに関して、一方的、個別的、追加的な制限を課していない。リトアニアは、異なる移行期間と発効期限を持つEU制裁を一貫して実施してきた」と記されている。
これに先立ち、リトアニアのガブリエリウス・ランズベルギス外相は、これらの制限を課すという決定は、ビリニュスが欧州委員会と協議した後になされ、その指導の下で実施されたものであると述べた。
Russia threatens Lithuania with ‘serious’ consequencesMoscow will retaliate to the transport “blockade” of Kaliningrad Region, the top security official says
Moscow’s retaliation to Lithuania’s transport “blockade” of Russia’s Kaliningrad Region will seriously affect Lithuanian citizens, Nikolay Patrushev, the head of Russia’s Security Council, has said.
“Of course, Russia will respond to hostile actions. Appropriate measures are in the works, and will be adopted in the near future,” Patrushev told reporters during a trip to Kaliningrad on Tuesday.
He added that the consequences of Moscow’s response will “have a serious negative impact on the people of Lithuania.”
Kaliningrad Region is a small Russian exclave sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. On Saturday, Lithuania’s national railway operator banned the flow of sanctioned goods between the region and the rest of Russia, citing instructions from the European Commission.
Moscow slammed the move as illegal under international law and summoned the Lithuanian ambassador. On Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry summoned the EU’s envoy to Russia, Markus Ederer. “We demanded that the normal functioning of the Kaliningrad transit is restored immediately,” the ministry said in a statement.
Many countries, including EU members, imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow in response to Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, which was launched in late February.
Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, defended Vilnius on Monday, saying it was acting in accordance with the bloc’s sanctions mechanism. “Lithuania is not guilty, it is not implementing national sanctions,” he told reporters.
リトアニアのカリーニングラード州への輸送 "封鎖 "にモスクワが報復、安全保障トップが発言
ロシアのカリーニングラード州に対するリトアニアの輸送「封鎖」に対するモスクワの報復は、リトアニア国民に深刻な影響を与えると、ロシア安全保障会議のニコライ・パトルシェフ議長が述べています。
「もちろん、ロシアは敵対的行為に対応する。適切な措置が講じられており、近い将来採用されるだろう」と、パトルシェフは火曜日にカリーニングラードを訪問した際、記者団に語った。
また、モスクワの対応の結果、"リトアニアの人々に深刻な悪影響を与えるだろう "と付け加えた。
EU to review Kaliningrad blockadeSanctions guidelines shouldn't “block” traffic between Russia and its Kaliningrad exclave, top diplomat says
The EU is not seeking to impose a “blockade” on Russia’s Kaliningrad Region and will review its sanctions guidelines to avoid “blocking” traffic into and out of the exclave, the bloc’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said Thursday.
Lithuania’s actions to restrict transit to and from Kaliningrad, implemented under EU Commission guidelines, are aimed foremost at preventing the circumvention of anti-Russia sanctions imposed over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Borrell explained.
“We want to make controls that could prevent any kind of sanctions avoidance, and not preventing the traffic. And the [European] Commission and the European External Action Service are going to review the guidelines in order to clarify that we do not want to block or prevent the traffic between Russia and Kaliningrad,” the diplomat told a news conference.
There are some goods which are under control and this control has to be implemented in a clever and smart way in order to control the sanctions, but not obstructing the traffic between Kaliningrad and Russia.