• Lithuania has banned Kaliningrad from imports from EU in response to sanctions imposed by EU.
• Lithuanian foreign minister claims it is just following EU sanctions.
•  Nikolai Patrushev stated that “Russia would undoubtedly retaliate to such aggressive measures”.

After Lithuania prohibited the rail transfer of some products to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, Russia threatened Lithuania with “severe” repercussions.

Senior security officer Nikolai Patrushev stated that Russia “would undoubtedly retaliate to such aggressive measures.”

As a result of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Lithuania claims it is just adhering to sanctions imposed by the EU.

There is no geographical boundary between the strategically important area of Kaliningrad and the Russian mainland.

Lithuania and Poland, both members of the EU and NATO, border the western area, which was taken from Germany following World War Two in 1945.

The region, which is home to an estimated million people, is primarily reliant on imports of raw materials and replacement parts from the EU and Russia.

According to regional governor Anton Alikhanov, the embargo will affect around 50% of Kaliningrad’s imports.

Mr. Patrushev claimed the embargo by Lithuania was started by the West “in violation of… international law” during a visit to Kaliningrad on Tuesday.

In the near future, “necessary actions” would be implemented, the Security Council secretary of Russia said.

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Without going into any detail, he said, “Their effects will have a major detrimental impact on the population of Lithuania.”

The EU ambassador was called to the Russian foreign ministry earlier on Tuesday to discuss the blockage.

The Lithuanian government declared last week that it would forbid Kaliningrad from receiving any products that are subject to EU sanctions.

Gabrielius Landsbergis, the foreign minister of Lithuania, said: “Lithuania is not taking any action; rather, European penalties began to take effect on June 17th. The European Commission was consulted, and it was carried out in accordance with its directives.”

The EU has echoed Lithuania’s remark, claiming that the country is only executing sanctions imposed by the EU as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Coal, metals, building supplies, and cutting-edge technology are all on the sanctions list.

Lithuania is covered by collective defence agreements because it is a part of the Nato military alliance.

Ned Price, a spokesman for the US state department, declared that the US was supporting Lithuania and reaffirmed its “iron clad” adherence to Nato’s Article 5, which sees an attack on one member state as an attack on all.

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