This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61878929
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
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 Moscow | Kaliningrad, which has no land border with Russia, remains of strategic importance to Moscow |
Russia has warned Lithuania of "serious" consequences after it banned the rail transfer of some goods to the Russian territory of Kaliningrad. | |
Russia "will certainly respond to such hostile actions," senior security official Nikolai Patrushev said. | |
Lithuania says it is only following the EU sanctions imposed over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. | |
Kaliningrad - a strategic region where Russia's Baltic Fleet is headquartered - has no border with mainland 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. |
As a member of the Nato military alliance, Lithuania is 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. |