Reuters reported on Wednesday that European officials are in talks on a possible compromise on goods traveling to Kaliningrad, the Russian enclave sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland.
Lithuania has stopped allowing goods sanctioned by the EU to travel through its territory, and Russia has vowed it would respond if the move isn’t reversed. Two people familiar with the matter told Reuters that European officials are discussing exempting Kaliningrad from sanctions and that a deal could reached as soon as next week.
The compromise could be made on the grounds that goods being shipped to Kaliningrad do not count as normal international trade since the territory is part of Russia. But the report said the compromise would be made only on the condition that the sanctioned goods aren’t shipped out of Kaliningrad’s Baltic Sea port, which wouldn’t be possible for the EU to enforce.
One source told Reuters that Lithuania has “serious reservations” about making a concession to Moscow. Lithuanian officials have said publicly that they won’t reverse their decision and that they don’t expect a military response from Russia since Lithuania is a NATO member.
But the report said Lithuania fears Russia could respond to the Kaliningrad embargo by using its military to create a corridor through its territory. Other NATO nations have troops stationed in Lithuania, including the US and Germany. Berlin is trying to avoid an escalation over Kaliningrad and is backing the talks to reach a compromise, the report said.
Last week, Kaliningrad Governor Anton Alikhanov said he expects the EU will amend its sanctions for the territory. He noted that the EU has made previous commitments guaranteeing the transit of goods to Kaliningrad.
Not only is every action and reaction ratcheting up the crisis toward world war, so too is the number of flash-points that could trigger it.
https://patternofhistory.wordpress.com/
For centuries the Germanic tribes pushed against the Slavs northwards along the Baltic coast all the way to Estonia. Riga became a German-Dutch town. A counter-push began after WW1, spearheaded by the Soviet Union. Kaliningrad is one of the consequences. The NATO membership of these countries has made them subject to the Germanic tribes again. After all, we Americans are derivatives of Germanic tribes.
Good history, Dieter, but not sure about the relevance. The war here is between the western mil ind corporate empire vs the Russian nationalists, no?
Ok I’ll say “no” which is the answer it appears you want.
Lithuania is being pushed by USUK to escalate, now that the Ukraine caper is turning sour. But they should remember what happened to Poland in ’39 … alliances are only worth something if your ally is actually capable of taking the field. Russia is very close and the NATO heartland very far.
It is also screaming for help, for forces to be sent, for bases to be built. Meanwhile, its own defense budget will be “raised” to half the % GDP the US spends, from far less — which hardly matters only because they are far too small to pay for any real defense at any % including 100%, worse than Ukraine in that regard.
Lithuania is de-nazifying Russia. Lol.
Nonsense, As if EU can enforce other Russian sea ports in Baltic Sea…!
As Andrei Martyanov has pointed out, Russia can ferry goods on large ferries and other ships. They can bypass the rail road if they have to. And any attempt to interfere with Russian shipping will meet with Russian Naval assets which the West can not match in Russia’s back yard.
Report: EU in Talks on Kaliningrad Compromise That Could Defuse Tensions
Caused By EU With Russia