The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday demanded that Lithuania lift all restrictions on the shipment of goods to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, which is sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea.
Lithuania announced last week that it was banning the transport of sanctioned goods through its territory to Kaliningrad, which the governor of the Russian enclave estimates will impact 50% of all goods that are transported to the territory by rail. The Russian Foreign Ministry said if these restrictions aren’t lifted, Moscow will retaliate.
“If the transit of goods between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of Russia through Lithuania is not fully restored, Russia reserves the right to take action to protect its national interests,” the Ministry said after summoning Virginija Umbrasene, Lithuania’s Charge d’Affaires in Russia.
Goods are shipped from Russia to Kaliningrad by rail through Belarus and Lithuania. Nothing transits through Poland, leaving shipments via the Baltic Sea the only way Russia will be able to transport sanctioned items to the enclave. In February, Lithuania banned Russian airlines from using its airspace to fly to Kaliningrad, cutting off the shortest flight path from Russia to the enclave.
In order to offset the ban, Kaliningrad Governor Anton Alikhanov said items not under sanctions that are transported by sea will be redirected to rail, leaving more room to transport sanctioned goods via ship.
Alikhanov and other Russian officials insist the ban will not result in shortages but warn Moscow will still respond if Lithuania doesn’t reverse the move. “Of course goods will be shipped. But Russian countermeasures at least limited in scope will definitely follow. For a country like Lithuania they may be rather tangible,” Mikhail Ulyanov, the Russian ambassador to Vienna, wrote on Twitter.
Lithuania defended its decision on Monday, arguing it is only a ban on sanctions goods and not a blockade. Laurynas Kasciunas, the chairman of the Lithuanian Parliament’s national security and defense committee, said Vilnius is not “particularly worried about Russian threats.” He said a military response “is highly unlikely because Lithuania is a member of NATO. If this were not the case, they probably would consider it.”
Russia has several agreements with Vilnius and the EU on the transportation of goods through Lithuania. The Russian Foreign Ministry pointed to the 2002 Joint Statement of the EU and the Russian Federation on Transit between the Kaliningrad Region and the rest of the Russian Federation.
In the statement, the EU and Russia agreed that the parties “acknowledge the unique situation of the Kaliningrad Region” and will “agree to make a special effort to accommodate the concerns on both sides related to the future transit of persons and goods between the Kaliningrad Region and other parts of Russia.”
Another front opened by Zionists who want WW III
Well, I am fealy starting to wonder what z stands for.
Zorro?
Since 199oth NATO is poking Russia. When Russia retaliates, all the west is screaming about “Russian aggression”. The only profiteer of this strategy is the military industrial complex of USA and those who serve to it.
MIC profits. But the real winner is Zionists
How do they benefit?
So Lithuania, which has already destroyed any relationship with China, thinks it is fun to needle Russia and feel safe because the wonderful defensive NATO will protect it.
Russia has a treaty with Lithuania dated 1993. That treaty bans interference of transportation of goods to Kaliningrad from the rest of Russia. In addition, the EU sanctions do not refer to Russian goods going by Russian transportation vehicles going to Russian territories.
Of course, any agreements, contracts or treaties by EU, NATO /US have proven to be worthless. Other nations, including China, India, Brazil and others are becoming aware of this duplicity and deceit. This will accelerate the breakdown of international order including trade vital for the prosperity of the peoples of the world.
Any action by Russia against Lithuania will be presented in the west as “unprovoked and unjustified.” We’re done here. It’s WWIII.
The west will wake up to reality if Russia moves into Lithuania. Too many worldly possessions to risk losing.
“It’s WWIII.”
Bah, this is nothing but sabre rattling. Russia can’t afford to open a second front in tis war.
Russia had a treaty with Ukraine setting mutual borders, too. How much value has that treaty had since February?
Actually the treaty you are referring to came out of a post Soviet nuclear arms control agreement. Ukraine gave up nuclear arms in return for recognition of the Soviet Unions administration borders. Crimea had declared itself independent before the political faction of the Ukraine SSR did. Crimea joined with Ukraine after the Russian Federation was too disorganized to accept Crimea as an addition to the Russian Federation. Crimea did so under the premise that that Oblask would be autonomous. This status was going to be revoked by the US installed Kiev regime.
The USA and UK violated the Budapest Memorandum which they, along with the Russian Federation had agreed to as those countries were involved in the Maidan coup in 2014 which overthrew the legal government of Ukraine. The agreement between those nations was a ban on interference in Ukraine. The Russian Federation didn’t break the agreement. The US and UK did. Note: The resultant withdrawal of Crimea and later incorporation into Russia was AFTER the Maidan coup.
As far as the Donbas republics go? Russia attempted to resolve the issue of these separatist Oblasts by the Minsk Accords. Russia refused to recognize the separatist republics for 8 years. Only when NATO (dominated by the US and UK who had signed the Budapest Memorandum) involved those nations with a military involvement in training and arming Ukraine for those 8 years did Russia recognize those republics and then only when the NATO trained and armed AFU massed troops against those areas did Russia act.
Thanks for making my point on broken agreements.
Thanks for
Thank You for saving me the trouble of refuting Knap’s oblivious contention that Minsk was violated by Russia. Very good comment!!!
Actually I don’t think he did. He’s maybe a bit Manichean about all governments always being dishonest vicious thugs, but it’s a not entirely invalid simplifying assumption.
I can never decide where Mr Knapp stands on issues, yesterday published an excellent article on assange tragedy, today commenting that Russia violated treaty with nazi dominated ukraine, ignoring the attacks and ethnic Russian deaths at the hands of these naziis in donbass.
There are good reports that this nazi uke govt was planning to launch serious attacks on the donbass some days prior to Feb 24 crossing the border to protect itself and ethnic Russians.
I write three columns a week on various issues, including foreign policy. Does every blog comment mentioning a single fact have to be a book-length list of every other thing as well?
Just looking for consistency.
What kind of “consistency” do you want? From 2014 on, I’ve consistently written against the US-sponsored coup in Ukraine, and in favor of Ukraine letting the Donbas secessionists leave in peace, and against NATO expansion, and against baiting Putin vis a vis Ukraine, etc.
But the instant I point out that, like all other regimes, Putin’s regime is a lying gang of vicious, violent, untrustworthy thugs who would throw their own mothers under a bus if they saw any political gain in it, all of a sudden you “can never decide where I stand.”
For future reference, here are a couple of “where I stand” quotes from other people which can be used as perpetual references for my own stands:
“Everything the State says is a lie, and everything it has it has stolen.” — Friedrich Nietzsche
“A good politician is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar.” — HL Mencken
“Putin’s regime is a lying gang of vicious, violent, untrustworthy thugs who would throw their own mothers under a bus if they saw any political gain in it,”
Do not agree at all as they are Russians and as such they will defend Russia and Russians every day, every hour of the day.
For a brief moment, I thought you were describing the thugs in state dept and cia who are and have administered murder, destruction, massive resource and financial theft through out the world.
This is not a “but what about” argument which is what I saw in your raising the treaty issue; Putin had no choice but to attack the nazis who are acting for the thugs in state and cia who continue to shell and have shelled for the last 8 years the donbass civilians with grad , mortars, and newly acquired model 177 arty.
“For a brief moment, I thought you were describing the thugs in state dept and cia who are and have administered murder, destruction, massive resource and financial theft through out the world.”
I was.
And I was also describing Putin and Co.
Ukraine violated the Minsk agreement which altered the borders or rights which are associated with them, which moots any prior obligations on/at those borders. I don’t know the dates, but certainly Ukraine has been violating the Latest agreemants, the Minsk agreements which superceded prior ones.
The Minsk agreements didn’t set the Ukraine/Russia border. They set the status of the Donbas republics (as remaining part of Ukraine but with some autonomy and pending elections).
And yes, Ukraine violated Minsk. Just like every regime violates every agreement that it considers inconvenient. Including the Russian regime, and the Lithuanian regime, and above all the US regime.
These people r genuine idiots. They not onkypicked a fight with China by opening a Taiwanese embassy the named it Taiwanese which has not been done by anybody. They thought they were making a statement but when China made statement of it’s own by banning components from Lithuania they cried and went to eu asking for help and now they r provoking a country that has very little to lose. Eu powers must make an example of these idiots by slow rolling the lawsuits against China in wto and stopping or slow rolling financial assistance so the people of this country get so they get rid of these idiots after suffering from the actions of their own government otherwise this regime e will drag Europe to a serious crisis over the long run
On orders direct from the Neocon White House, saying, in effect, We mustn’t allow Washington to be humiliated. We will use nukes. Putin on the verge of total victory is now faced with their final gambit: call their bluff, or negotiate a “peace-with-honor” for Washington/NATO. A very very dangerous time. And nothing to do with Vilnius, excepting the always specious casus bellum ploy.
The Neocons might give the order to nuke but who will turn the keys?
Right. Nuland, Sullivan, Avril Haines, Bloody Gina, Blinken, … will give the order, but a brainless old pol will turn the key and get the historical “credit”. Yes, it’s happened before, no?
Shouldn’t it be “Yes, it’s happened before, yes?” It looks like you’re encouraging a “no” response to your statement.
There was a movie, I forget the name of this movie, where airmen had their firearms in their hands while readying to turn the keys and the next thing that happened was they all shot each other.
Thanks to Jimmy Carter we know that they take a course (think of Ignatius “Spiritual Exercises”) to prepare to turn the key. So, just as the missiles are “armed & ready” so the POTUS and the key Responsible(s) are psychologically armed and ready to do the deed. Entailing as it does the killing of one’s children et. al. but the putting period to history and the species, the magnitude of the act would seem to far exceed an ego’s capacity…? But these types don’t think in retail terms. Clearly, 1 thousand lives or one million doesn’t give them pause. And they are so far steeped in blood already “going back were as tedious as going o’r.”
It’s going to get mighty cold there when Russia turns off the gas.
https://sonar21.com/will-russia-shift-to-a-war-strategy/
Will Russia Shift to a War Strategy?
“He said a military response “is highly unlikely because Lithuania is a
member of NATO. If this were not the case, they probably would consider
it.””
The Hells Angels have a “no drug burn” rule, which I was wondering what that was when I first read it but the Angels operate with a pack mentality like NATO, pursuant to which the entire pack responds to any attack on any one member, an unanticipated consequence of which was that some of the less ethical Angels would renege on paying for drugs, confident the combined threat of the pack would deter attempted collection. This was wrong and led to conflict, so the Hells Angels passed a rule against it. I guess I just want to point out that the Hells Angels are run more sensibly than NATO.
I hope there’s not a nuclear war.
Little guy at the bar flicking peanuts at a big grizzled fighter, confident his big brother will save him if there’s a fight. Big bro, though, has always only been interested in the girls and wants no part of this fight …
Perfect “Mouse that Roared” situation … isn’t NATO membership great?
Russia spoked with the EU. The dirt poor Lithuanian fascist regime has no say in this they’re doing what they’re told. EU, still acting out irrational and emotional, needed a bargaining chip but went way too far. Russia’s response will hit them hard, again.
A review of the map shows that Lithuania is completely surrounded by Russia and Belarus, except for one corner with Poland.
That corner with Poland has just two main roads, both rather narrow, both allowing a very long haul from any Polish port to the two main cities of Lithuania. Those limited long roads are not a viable alternative on which to keep alive the whole economy of Lithuania.
It needs its road and rail connections with Russia and Belarus. They are as vital to Lithuania as they are vital passing through it to Kaliningrad.
Russia’s automatic response would amount to a blockade of Lithuania. It would strangle. It is a NATO exclave, almost as much as Kaliningrad is an exclave for Russia.
This would be a foolish place and way to pick a fight.
Silliness. Lithuania has a Baltic Sea coastline that Russia will not be able to blocakde.
So does Kaliningrad have sea access. The point is that a land blockade of road and rail wrecks a normal economy, which no doubt delights you to say as to Kaliningrad even as you deny the same about Lithuania.
BTW, Lithuania’s northern borders have next to no roads. The port of Riga has a very long two lane road with round about circles along it for intersections, going to secondary cities, not the main cities. That is not the basis for a functioning national economy.
Sweden is not yet in NATO, but even if it was would have no road or rail access.
Sure, they will survive. It is not besieged any more than the Russian enclave. It is however facing economic strangulation, depression and joblessness.
“which no doubt delights you to say as to Kaliningrad ”
Hardly.
Perfect spending opportunity for the US taxpayer. Build them roads, grant trade concessions, build them some bases, blow more money on Poland. Just buy more printing presses to pay for it. And it will all be Russia’s fault. Come to think of it, maybe Russia and China really have had this plan all along.
I think you should look at the map again, with Sweden and Finland in NATO, Russia has no real access to the Baltics.
St. Petersburg and Ust-Luga are the two largest ports on the Baltic, AFAIK.
Sure, but both ports are squeezed in between NATO territory.
So any transit is vulnerable.
The main road and rail connections come from Russia. The local economy lives off that, and has since long before independence. In fact, overland rail trans-shipments from China was a major activity, now itself in dispute because of Taiwan.
That is only natural since the USSR occupation, however, going forward (with the sanctions against Russia) the integration with the EU will be complete.
Lithuania is playing with Fire…!
BTW – Nice Map Mr. DeCamp…!
The real issue is that Russia will make deliveries by sea. Then NATO will attempt to interfere with that.. Then Russia will escort ships with the Russian Navy. Then Russia will start sinking NATO ships.
Personally I think Russia should stomp Lithuania like it’s doing with Ukraine, NATO be damned. NATO can’t do anything about it. Lithuania is a pipsqueak nation. Germany and France aren’t going to war with Russia over it if they aren’t willing to do so over Ukraine, regardless of Ukraine not being in NATO. NATO is a toothless alliance absent the US. And the Pentagon is not going to war with Russia over Lithuania.
The EU is becoming ENU (European Non-Union) slowly but surely…!
I’m pretty sure Russia is through walking on egg shells. They’re not going to even bother going out of their way by sea. They’re going to break that blockade. Negate that blockade and possibly blockade Lithuania.
Russia is on the verge of declaring war against America.
“Russia is on the verge of declaring war against America.”
I don’t think so. Russia can barely handle Ukraine.
And how would Russia blockade Lithuania’s Baltic Sea coastline? It’s not going to happen.
“I don’t think so. Russia can barely handle Ukraine.”
To be fair, Russia has not been going “full blitzkrieg” on Ukraine. Far from it.
This is true, but the performance of the Russian military has left a lot to be desired.
At this point I don’t see any Russian motivation to declare war on US/NATO. Sabre rattle yes.
Of course anything can happen in the fog of war, but a declaration of war against the US is unlikely.
Lithuania is cruising for a bruising
It’s actually Russia that will end up badly bruised if it attacks Lithuania.
Russia can barely handle Ukraine. It is no match for NATO.
What a joke!!! Where has dreamyjoe been. If the U.S. could not handle Afghanistan, what will it do if it finds itself up against Russia and China hypersonic thermos. Most of NATO are helpless non-nuclear nobodies in this thermonuclear peer world. Paris and London will lay down like a rug if they find themselves risking their civilizations for Lithuania, or do you think they would take the risk???
The comparison to Afghanistan, which was asymetric warfare, is in apt.
The insults show you’re a rude jackass unable to comment in a civil manner.
“Paris and London will lay down like a rug if they find themselves risking their civilizations for Lithuania, or do you think they would take the risk???”
They will definitely take the risk.
I wonder how much the U.S./CIA is paying to Lithuania to make trouble for Russia?
Lithuania has got some balls, no question about that.
So the Kremlin can go hitler on neighboring countries, threaten Them and EU with cutting off gas supplies but cannot accept reciprocity in kind.
Putin and his cheerleaders can go F themselves. That Hitler bully behavior cannot be accepted just because they have nukes.
The war started when Ukraine attacked Russian protectorates in Donbass.
Yeah, of course.
In 2014, though they weren’t “Russian protectorates” but “breakaway republics” or some such. 14,000 dead is the most common stat.
Look at the delusional propagandist in your mirror…Russia had every right to stop the genocide being perpetuated by Ukraine in the Donbass. Furthermore I hope that Zelensky and his lapdog cabal of war criminals are next…
The only genocide i see is the one putin launched on 24 Feb.
That’s an interesting phrase- “just because they have nukes”. You don’t often see “just” in front of “nukes”. Kind of like “just a high pressure blast wave” or “just radiation poisoning”. Call me naive, but these comments have to come from bots or paid trolls because there aren’t that many real people who are that dismissive about nuclear war. And Russia isn’t the one pushing for economic isolation, the US is.
You could say the same about the 27 NATO thugs. Just because they have more sophisticated weapons and a larger number of troops doesnt mean they can be going around the world bombing and invading any country they want.
It’s very telling how many commenters are clearly not just willing but EAGER to see Lithuania get smacked down by Russia.
War fever drives people crazy. Even — maybe even especially — people who pretended to be, and maybe even really thought they were, “anti-war” until the instant a regime they support went to war.
Maybe in this case it’s more like people supporting a regime that’s opposing another regime that they oppose but yeah, they don’t call it “war hysteria” for nothing. But then I’m not sure what other emotion you’d use for mass slaughter.
blood lust
There are circumstances when only rational choice is offense. More often than not than the nonaggression is creating an unacceptable situation that is best remedied by aggressive action. These are the situations which separate the pacifists from the antiwariers. Sometimes one must fight to remain free of domination, occupation or exploitation. I won’t say these are the good fights, but they are the better fights than the ones to occupy or dominate others who pose no threat, but are a plum 2 be picked.
I do not see how this benefits the people of Lithuania. They seem to need better leadership.
The little mouse Lithuanian is about to be eaten by the bear !
The mouse outsmarts the bear!
Actually, bears are smarter than mice.
Let’s suppose that the train is sealed, and that no goods can leave the train and enter Lithuania. Then, the train is basically an internal movement of goods, that for customs purposes, never leave Russia, nor do they enter Lithuania.
Interesting how the pro-neocon pundits are showing up in this space constantly to argue against us. When we say, end this war before it escalates, their response: don’t worry about WWIII or total nuclear destruction, trust Biden and his goons. They have just as slim of a chance of converting us to neocons as Ukraine winning against Russia.
Not that there aren’t enough threads going here but a big question that everybody on however many sides can ask is “why now”. The SMO has been going on for four months. Did Lithuania just now notice Russian goods are being shipped across it? Is there supposed to be some above board explanation for their action? Is it actually supposed to stop Russia, or is it just more neocon warmongering? Is there any chance the MSM will ask?
The NATO thugs playing with fire and humanity again, testing Russia to determine how far they will go.
They close the train route now and if Russia does not respond with force, the next step is to close the port. If Russia reacts with the threat of serious force, then the lap dogs, will hide behind the EU skirt, blame the EU and have a way out.
The NATO thugs only listen to brute force.