Lithuania threatens to take Russian region hostage, demands changes in foreign policy

Russia Today ^

[kronos77]

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister says his country could block land transport to Russia’s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad if Russia maintains its opposition to stronger trade ties between Ukraine and the European Union.

"As you know, the Kaliningrad region is isolated, geographically isolated, so we could apply some measures also to cut something," the Reuters news agency quoted Linas Linkevicius as saying on Wednesday. "Transport, we could cut off trains, but not only trains, also the supply of goods, whatever. It is theoretically possible," the official added.

The reporters raised the topic as Lithuania, which currently holds the rotating presidency in the EU, is preparing to host the Third Eastern Partnership Summit– the major conference dedicated to strengthening trade ties between the European economic bloc and six states in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. All of these countries are Russian neighbors and close economic partners.

Russia is currently building its own economic bloc – the Customs Union – which currently consists of itself, Belarus and Kazakhstan, but to which it welcomes other neighboring nations.

However, the Russian initiative is being opposed by top European officials. As the Ukrainian government was negotiating its association agreement with the EU in September this year, the head of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy said that after the association it would be impossible for Ukraine to participate in the Customs Union.

Also in September, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that if Ukraine first joined the Customs Union it could negotiate its further cooperation with the EU on much better terms. “We hold that such a move would support our common interests – ours and Ukrainian,” Putin told reporters and experts at the closing session of the Valdai Discussion Club.

[Freelance Warrior]

To: expat_panama

Restore the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth!

Do you really expect expat_panama to have it done?

[Freelance Warrior]

Read thou 20th century history of Danzig. In that regard, (historical parallels) Kaliningrad IS Russian for Gdansk. Beside that, it had never, prior to the Yalta surrender by the West, been part of Russia. During the last months of WWII this historical city was completely destroyed by the Soviets, and was not rebuilt for decades afterwards, its remaining citizens, Poles, Lithuanians and Germans prevented from leaving it.

Kaliningrad isn't Gdansk (Danzig). These two are different cities. The previous name for Kaliningrad is Konigsberg. It was populated by Germans, not Poles since medieval times, and most of them fled to mainland Germany in WWII.

[okie01]

The previous name for Kaliningrad is Konigsberg. It was populated by Germans, not Poles since medieval times, and most of them fled to mainland Germany in WWII.

Moreover, Konigsberg translates to King City -- and was so named as the seat of the Hohenzollern dynasty. The Kaisers came to Konigsberg to be crowned.

Kaliningrad (nee: Konigsberg) was originally a very German (Prussian) city.

[cunning_fish]

Konigsberg was a heart of Junker aristocracy and a birthplace of infamous German imperialism. Demolishing the city and killing it’s population was a part of Stalin’s plan to pacify Germany. It seems like working.

[OldNewYork]

“Well, then. Maybe he should offer to give Putin a foot massage, instead?”

Trolls gotta troll, right? Are you a little bit upset I gave you the last word and let your comment go without responding further to it on another thread and are making up for it by bringing it here?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3072696/posts:
“Trolling since Jan., 1999 . . . and poking Russians with a stick ever since.”

In a quiet moment, you’d have to ask yourself if you accomplished what you set out to accomplish in your 14 years of it.

[Agamemnon]

Kaliningrad is ~ 2.5 - 3 hours away from Gdansk by bus.

Kaliningrad,Russia/Gdansk(Danzig),Poland

There are probably quite a few Poles who would disagree with the notion that Gdansk is Russian for Kaliningrad.

History of Kaliningrad may be found at this link: Kaliningrad History

FReegards!

[1rudeboy]

Me upset? Hardly. Just commenting on your pro-Russian bias. And I’ll continue to do so while I’m still free to do so.

[Revolting cat!]

Still don’t get it, do you? We’re just stupid? No, we just happen to remember a little history. The assumption that other people are stupid and we can prove it by Googling some word or name, and make ourselves look smart is a bane and plague of the Internet.

In any case, to explicitly explain the reference. I can’t speak for dfw, but the way I immediately understood his initial remark was that the current situation with Kaliningrad (what was its Polish name, since you know everything?) is remindful of the conflict over German access to Danzig in the 1930s between Germany and Poland. A reference, obvious to a few, obscure to others, and that’s quite all right, to the so-called ‘Danzig corridor’ demanded of the Poles by Adolph. Historical parallels, as I said. You can look that up too.

That’s why is ‘Kaliningrad is Danzig’ in Russian. D’uh and sheesh!

[OldNewYork]

It wouldn’t take anyone very long to dispel your nonsense charges, even in the last thread I linked to, in my comments to someone else. When they’re in the right, they’re in the right. You’ve already admitted an anti-Russian bias, so anyone being objective about them would then seem to you to be going too far in their favor.

[1rudeboy]

That’s how it works, nowadays, huh? Pro-Russian bias is “objective?” What’s the weather like in Moscow, today?

[Revolting cat!]

If anyone should own Königsberg, it is the Poles or the Lithuanians, and certainly not FDR’s favorite the savage alcoholic Asiatic hordes that own it now.

[OldNewYork]

Again, troll away. I’ll give you the last word here, too. Keep this up, and no one will take anything you say seriously.

[1rudeboy]

You are so “gracious,” comrade.

[Agamemnon]

Still don’t get it, do you? We’re just stupid? No, we just happen to remember a little history.

By your logic since New York City is 2.5 -3 hours away from Boston by bus one may legitimately say that New York City and Boston are the same place.

A little less feigned consternation and few links which support your side of the discussion would be much more helpful to support your position.

That’s why is ‘Kaliningrad is Danzig’ in Russian. D’uh and sheesh!

Might want to actually learn a little Russian while you're at it too:

Гданьск = Gdansk (Polish)

Гданьск = Danzig

Калининград = Kaliningrad

FReegards!

[Revolting cat!]

I guess, I’ll have to let somebody else explain to you how similes and metaphors work.

Yes, in any language, Kaliningrad IS Russian for Danzig! (I know my Ruski, thank you.)

Cheers.

[Freelance Warrior]

I've called no-one stupid, just corrected what I thought was a mistake. Ok, now I see you've tried to express your thoughts symbolically. But the first your post wasn't clear enough since you hadn't shared any factual material. Now, you'be put things straight, thank you.

what was its Polish name, since you know everything?

I'm not banned in Wikipedia, so I don't think my answer would be really of value. Why do you think that the Polish name is so important in this context?

[Freelance Warrior]

Beside that, it had never, prior to the Yalta surrender by the West, been part of Russia.

This is a mistake. Konigsberg was shortly a part of Russia in the XVIII century. link

BTW what is "the West"? Yalta's participants were the USA, the UK, and the USSR.

[Tailgunner Joe]

It's a “threat” to refuse to allow Russians to cross Lithuanian territory? Russia has acted with hostility toward Lithuania like when the Kremlin cut off their gas in the middle of the winter. Why should Lithuania not punish such hostile behavior? KGB thug Putin uses nationalized energy supplies as political weapons of intimidation and blackmail against former Soviet states in a megalomaniacal campaign to resurrect the EVIL EMPIRE. The stupid and evil thug Putin must be shown that he cannot bully his neighbors into submission. The EVIL EMPIRE Putin loyally served is dead and gone forever!

[Revolting cat!]

The remark that ‘Kaliningrad is Russian for Danzig’ wasn’t mine! One shouldn’t have to explain bon mots and puns, they’re just not worth it. Get it, OK, don’t get it, don’t argue, and risk ending up looking like a fool. And yet, after all the explanations one poster still doesn’t get it.

It was the West, Western allies, represented by the US and Britain who surrendered to Russia in Yalta and Tehran. Russia certainly didn’t surrender to itself.

[Agamemnon]

Yes, in any language, Kaliningrad IS Russian for Danzig! (I know my Ruski, thank you.)

Really?

Гданьск ≠ Калининград

FReegards!