Lithuania defends ban on some goods to Russia’s Kaliningrad

By LIUDAS DAPKUS
Associated Press

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Lithuania is defending its decision to bar rail transit from Russia to a Russian Baltic Sea exclave of goods hit by European Union sanctions, in a move that drew Moscow’s strong anger amid high tensions in the region. The country’s foreign minister said Lithuania was simply implementing sanctions imposed by the EU, of which it is a member. He said the measures were taken after “consultation with the European Commission and under its guidelines.” The EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said Lithuania did not take any unilateral national restrictions and denied that land transit between Kaliningrad and other parts of Russia had been stopped, or banned.