It is beneficial for Russia to make accusations of “blockade of Kaliningrad”/Getty Images
In Russia, they were outraged by the ban of Lithuania to transport goods that fell under EU sanctions to the Kaliningrad region. However, all the Kremlin's accusations about this are just a propaganda step.
This was told to Channel 24 by Lithuanian MEP Petras Auštrevičius. Moscow is using this situation to its advantage.
Why it is beneficial for Russia to press charges
If we talk about the ban on the transit of goods to the Kaliningrad region, then it should be understood that it was also included in the fourth package of sanctions that the EU introduced against Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine. It was adopted in March, but the document entered into force on June 17.
According to Auštrevičius, Moscow was silent all this time, waiting for the right moment to start shouting about the blockade by Lithuania and the alleged desire of the country to economically destroy Kaliningrad .
That is, knowing the history of sanctions, as well as the fact that this is not a decision of Lithuania, but of the EU, Russia simply waited for the moment and presented everything as a new move on the part of Lithuania. She attacked us with criticism, propaganda and other accusations. This is done for domestic policy. This is a propaganda procession of the Kremlin,” said the MEP.
According to Auštrevičius, the Kremlin is doing this to escalate the situation between Russia and Lithuania and the EU.
“They want to show what the valiant Russian soldiers are doing that's all, but here such politicians, “bad uncles” from the EU are trying to make life worse for them. However, on the part of Russia, all this is done because of political goals,” the MEP added.
“Siege of Kaliningrad”: what is known
- According to the fourth package of EU sanctions against Russia, adopted on March 15, 2022, restrictive measures for the import and transit of Russian steel and other ferrous metal products to and through the EU entered into force on June 17, 2022. They cannot be transported through the territory of the Community.
- The Governor of the Kaliningrad region of Russia, Anton Alikhanov, announced on June 18 that Lithuania had stopped allowing transit trains with goods subject to EU sanctions to pass to it.
- In the Russian Foreign Ministry called Lithuania's actions an “openly hostile” provocation and a violation of international legal obligations. Therefore, the ministry even summoned the head of the Lithuanian embassy in Moscow.
- Lithuania responded to Russia's threats due to the blockade of the Kaliningrad region. The country's Foreign Ministry stressed that they only comply with the sanctions imposed by the EU.
- The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry came to the defense of Lithuanian friends. In particular, Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that Russia itself is to blame for the consequences of the invasion of Ukraine.
