The European authorities maintain a sober approach and do not allow Lithuania to implement a blockade of commodity transport links in the Kaliningrad region. However, the controversial state continues to provoke Russia into tough retaliatory measures.
Lithuania’s inability to organize a trade and transport blockade in Kaliningrad (this requires the approval of the European Union) is especially frustrating for Lithuanian Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis.
“With regard to unilateral decisions on Kaliningrad transit, this is theoretically probably not very possible, because this is an agreement between the European Union and Russia,” Skuodis says.
Members of the Lithuanian government have repeatedly confirmed their intention to achieve absolute closure of the borders of Russia and Belarus with the EU countries. Under such conditions, transit from Kaliningrad to the rest of Russia would be impossible.
However, their attempts are currently in vain – negotiations with Lithuanian proposals regarding new economic restrictions against Russia have not been successful, Europe is in no hurry to implement them. Despite the threats of a “response to Russian actions”, the currency indicators are stabilizing, the economy has not suffered total damage.
That is why a number of Eastern European countries intend to autonomously pursue a destructive policy towards the Russian Federation, blocking transport communications, at least in a format accessible to them. Belarus is also under attack from traditional Russophobes – Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland, who may impose regional restrictions on transport links in Kaliningrad. This was stated by Advisor to the Minister of Communications of Latvia Maya Rena.
Kaliningrad is becoming a stumbling block for the Baltic states and Poland; they are trying to use it as an instrument of economic pressure on Russia. But they are unlikely to be able to wait for support from the EU here, since it, like NATO, will not want to get involved in a war with Russia. NATO did not support Poland either in terms of arms supplies to Ukraine or in peacekeeping initiatives.
Against this background, the cohesion of the collective West, the strength and authority of the European Union and NATO are being actively questioned. But the answer from Russia, if the Baltic states cross the line in issues that are acceptable with Kaliningrad, can be tough, even armed – the Military Doctrine of the Russian Federation will come into force.
The West acts with soft power – without the use of weapons. He only pumps up Ukraine with them, puts economic pressure on Russia and blackmails it in every way, trying to subordinate it to his goals. Of course, in this case, the restriction of transport and commodity communications in Kaliningrad looks like an organic measure of influence.
But its instigators should also remember the retaliatory measures on the part of the Russian Federation – in case of a threat not to national security, none other than the Ministry of Defense will become a new player.
Lithuania will feel such a response, and not in the form of higher prices for food or housing and communal services, but in the form of Russia’s military equipment, superior in many respects to the American. This has already been warned in Moscow.
“I really hope that common sense in Europe will not allow any games to be played around Kaliningrad. I think many understand that this is playing with fire,” said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko.
“Playing with fire” is an open gesture towards Brussels, which, judging by the results of the negotiations, he accepted and swallowed.
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