On Wednesday, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that the European Union and Russia agreed to exempt goods transiting to Kaliningrad from the EU sanctions. The European Commission has denied this information.
“No, this is not at all true. It is a lie that we agreed or negotiated anything with Russia,” EC spokesperson Daniel Sheridan Ferrie said in a written response to LRT.lt.
On Wednesday, the EC also issued new guidelines, saying that sanctions do not apply to rail transit via Lithuania to Russia‘s Kaliningrad. According to the document, rail transit can only be used to satisfy the needs of essential goods in Kaliningrad.
“The transit of sanctioned goods by road with Russian operators is not allowed under the EU measures. No such similar prohibition exists for rail transport,” the Commission said in a statement on Wednesday.
While the updated guidelines allow Russia to transport sanctioned goods to Kaliningrad by rail, they also ensure coordinated pressure on Russia from the EU countries, according to the EC spokesperson.
“The aim of today’s guidance is to ensure the uniform application of EU sanctions with the ultimate goal of increasing economic pressure on Russia and undermining its ability to wage its war on Ukraine,” he said.
Read more: Lithuania and Kaliningrad – updates
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