Lithuania can expect 'various reactions' from Russia, PM says ahead of new sanctions

VILNIUS – Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways, LTG) has informed its customers of new sanctions set to take effect on freight to Kaliningrad, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said on Thursday, adding that 'various reactions' can be expected from Russia.  

"We can expect various reactions from Russia, not even reactions, but actions, without any reason and without any pretext, and it seems to me that the more we discuss this, the more comfortable our discussion is for Russia, because it does not really need any big pretext to organize something," she told journalists.

After certain EU sanctions against Russia took effect on June 17, Lithuania restricted the transit of steel and ferrous metals to Kaliningrad, saying the move was based on the European Commission's clarification.  

In response, Moscow has threatened to retaliate for the transit restrictions which it says violate international agreements. 

Based on information from the Lithuanian Customs Department, the ban on the transit of cement, alcohol and other products is set to come into force on July 10, on coal and other solid fossil fuels on August 10, and on Russian oil on December 5.

When asked how the new sanctions would be enforced, the prime minister said, "the same way as the ones that came into force on June 17 are being enforced now". 

"LTG customers have been notified of this," she said. "Carriers have been informed that certain provisions of the sanctions regulations will come into effect on July 10, and (asked) to ensure that no goods are loaded after that date."