Kaliningrad. Photo credit: George Dolgopsky / commons.wikimedia.org (CC-BY-SA-3.0)
Vilnius has expanded the list of goods prohibited for transit to the Kaliningrad region. The decision came into force on Monday, July 11, RIA Novosti reports. The customs of the Baltic Republic explained that the ban would affect cement, wood, alcohol and alcohol-based industrial chemicals. At the same time, customs refers to the sanctions adopted by the European Union.
The Lithuanian parliament added that in a month the ban will apply to coal and other solid fossil fuels. From December 5, the Lithuanian authorities are going to ban the transit of oil, and in February next year they will ban the transit of petroleum products.
The Russian Foreign Ministry promised a retaliatory response to transit restrictions to Kaliningrad if European officials do not resolve the situation. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova recalled that Russian patience is great, but it has its limits. She advised the European Commission not to forget that ''the clock is ticking.''
The EU has previously stated that they do not yet have any recommendations for the Lithuanian authorities on the issue of transit to Kaliningrad.
Vilnius decided to stop a transit pass to the Kaliningrad region from June 18 for a number of goods included in the EU sanctions list. According to rough estimates, from 40% to 50% of the goods that were previously transported by trains will not be able to reach the region by rail.
Russkiy Mir
