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Kaliningrad: Row erupts over goods blocked from entering Russian territory Kaliningrad: Russia warns Lithuania of consequences over rail transit blockade
(about 2 hours later)
Kaliningrad, which has no land border with Russia, remains of strategic importance to MoscowKaliningrad, which has no land border with Russia, remains of strategic importance to Moscow
Russia has summoned the EU ambassador in response to Lithuania's ban on some goods being transported by rail to the Russian territory of Kaliningrad. Russia has warned Lithuania of "serious" consequences after it banned the rail transfer of some goods to the Russian territory of Kaliningrad.
Lithuania says it is bound by EU sanctions, imposed as part of a series of measures taken over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Russia "will certainly respond to such hostile actions," senior security official Nikolai Patrushev said.
The Kremlin has called the measures "unprecedented" and "illegal". Lithuania says it is only following the EU sanctions imposed over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
Russia's foreign ministry has threatened "to take actions to protect its national interests". Kaliningrad - a strategic region where Russia's Baltic Fleet is headquartered - has no border with mainland Russia.
Kaliningrad - which has no land border with Russia - was annexed from Germany in 1945 and remains of strategic importance to Russia. The western territory was annexed from Germany after World War Two in 1945 and is bordered by EU and Nato members Lithuania and Poland.
The region relies heavily on rail transit via Lithuania.
During visit on Tuesday to Kaliningrad, Mr Patrushev said the blockade by Lithuania was instigated by the West "in violation of... international law".
The secretary of Russia's Security Council warned that "appropriate measures" would be taken "in the near future".
"Their consequences will have a serious negative impact on the population of Lithuania," he added, without giving any further details.
Earlier on Tuesday, the EU ambassador was summoned to the Russian foreign ministry over the blockade.
Kaliningrad profile
Last week, the Lithuanian authorities announced they would ban goods subject to EU sanctions from passing through their territory to Kaliningrad.Last week, the Lithuanian authorities announced they would ban goods subject to EU sanctions from passing through their territory to Kaliningrad.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said: "It's not Lithuania doing anything: it's European sanctions that started working from 17 June... It was done with consultation from the European Commission and under European Commission guidelines."Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said: "It's not Lithuania doing anything: it's European sanctions that started working from 17 June... It was done with consultation from the European Commission and under European Commission guidelines."
The EU sanctions list includes coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology - and Russia's Kaliningrad Region Governor, Anton Alikhanov, Alikhanov said the ban would cover around 50% of the items that Kaliningrad imports.The EU sanctions list includes coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology - and Russia's Kaliningrad Region Governor, Anton Alikhanov, Alikhanov said the ban would cover around 50% of the items that Kaliningrad imports.
Kaliningrad profile As a member of the Nato military alliance, Lithuania is protected by collective defence treaties.
"We consider this to be a most serious violation... of the right to free transit into and out of Kaliningrad region," he said.
Russia's foreign ministry said Vilnius must reverse a move it described as "openly hostile".
"If cargo transit between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of the Russian Federation via Lithuania is not fully restored in the near future, then Russia reserves the right to take actions to protect its national interests," it said, without specifying what those actions may be.
Lithuania is a member of the Nato military alliance, protected by collective defence treaties.
Russian officials are furious with Lithuania - and the EU - over the ban on the transit of some goods to Kaliningrad. They're likening it to a blockade.Russian officials are furious with Lithuania - and the EU - over the ban on the transit of some goods to Kaliningrad. They're likening it to a blockade.
But when the foreign ministry in Moscow says "Russia reserves the right to take actions to protect its national interests", what exactly does it mean? What actions and when?But when the foreign ministry in Moscow says "Russia reserves the right to take actions to protect its national interests", what exactly does it mean? What actions and when?
The Kremlin says it's trying to work that out right now.The Kremlin says it's trying to work that out right now.
On Monday, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, noted that "the situation is really very serious and requires a very deep analysis before preparing any measures or any decisions. This thorough analysis will be carried out over the next few days."On Monday, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, noted that "the situation is really very serious and requires a very deep analysis before preparing any measures or any decisions. This thorough analysis will be carried out over the next few days."
Today, one of Vladimir Putin's closest allies, Nikolai Patrushev, flew to the Kaliningrad region to discuss "national security in north-west Russia". Mr Patrushev is secretary of Russia's powerful Security Council. Officials claim the visit was planned long in advance. What a coincidence.Today, one of Vladimir Putin's closest allies, Nikolai Patrushev, flew to the Kaliningrad region to discuss "national security in north-west Russia". Mr Patrushev is secretary of Russia's powerful Security Council. Officials claim the visit was planned long in advance. What a coincidence.
When it comes to "national security", Kaliningrad is a key location. Russia's Baltic fleet has its headquarters there. And Moscow has previously deployed nuclear-capable Iskander ballistic missiles to Kaliningrad region.When it comes to "national security", Kaliningrad is a key location. Russia's Baltic fleet has its headquarters there. And Moscow has previously deployed nuclear-capable Iskander ballistic missiles to Kaliningrad region.