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The European Union’s executive body said on July 13 that Russian sanctioned goods could transit through EU territory by train, but stressed the importance of monitoring such shipments.
The European Commission directive comes after Lithuania last month imposed restrictions on Russian goods passing through its Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, mostly by train, arguing it was enforcing sanctions imposed by the EU after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. on February 24.
Moscow demanded that Lithuania immediately lift the restrictions, threatening to retaliate and said it had taken its complaints to European authorities.
Legal guidance published by the European Commission said that while transit by road is prohibited, “no such ban exists for rail transport” from Russia to Kaliningrad, except for weapons.
Kaliningrad is located between Lithuania and Poland and is connected to the rest of Russia by railway lines that pass through Lithuania.
Lithuania closed routes for shipping steel and other metals it said were under EU sanctions that came into effect on June 18.
The EU spokesman, Eric Mamer, said that the Commission “has not negotiated anything with Russia”.
The European Commission said that Lithuania, like all EU countries, has an obligation to prevent the circumvention of sanctions, but this must be done through “appropriate measures and effective controls”.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania said that it will adhere to the guidelines of the European Commission./Rel
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