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Kaliningrad and Lithuania
You may have learned by now of the blockade of Kaliningrad by Lithuania. The city became part of Russia as part of the Yalta agreements and is connected to Russia by a single rail line that goes through the Suwalki Gap.
VILNIUS, Lithuania — Lithuania on Monday defended its decision to bar rail transit from Russia to a Russian Baltic Sea exclave of goods hit by European Union sanctions, in a move that drew Moscow’s strong anger amid high tensions in the region.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said his country was simply implementing sanctions imposed by the EU, of which it is a member. He said the measures implemented Saturday were taken after “consultation with the European Commission and under its guidelines.”
”Sanctioned goods (will) no longer be allowed to transit Lithuanian territory,” Landsbergis added.
Goods that are sanctioned include things like steel, oil products, and dual-use goods, including computers. It does not include food. However, Russia is reacting in a predictable way. Here is a telegram post that addresses this in detail from the Russian point of view, though it is a liberal group, so it is also critical of the…