Posted on 10/02/2013 9:26:41 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at rt.com ...
They best remember what happened in Georgia...
One, Kaliningrad is not land-locked. It is a seaport.
Two, Putin does not respond well to threats.
Three, don't expect anyone to come to your aid if push comes to shove. Obama might draw some sort or red line to help you, but then he'll forget all about it and go golfing.
The mouse that roared? Wonder just what weakness he sees in Putin?
Or what happened on January 13, 1991 in Vilnius.
Kaliningrad is Russian for “Danzig.” (And yes, I know the real German name for it is “ Königsberg”)
Lithuania is a NATO member, so I guess we get to back up their threats.
Kaliningrad Railway has standard gauge railroad lines, not Russian broad gauge lines. On the other hand, Lithuania has Russian broad gauge lines (as do Latvia and Estonia). Lithuania could “cut off” Kaliningrad (and integrate with the west) by switching to standard gauge. Unfortunately, a proposal to convert a line from Poland to Estonia and thence to Finland to standard gauge, is currently rejected in favor of renewing Russian broad gauge line from Lithuania to Estonia.
Trust me, they do. Lithuanians don't fear (or worship) Russians, like some FReepers.
Three, don't expect anyone to come to your aid if push comes to shove.
No one came last time, or the time before that . . . .
I agree. Lithuanian girls are hot, but Polish girls have larger tracts of land.
Danzig is German for the Polish, Gdansk, not Kaliningrad.
Konigsberg = Kaliningrad. Correct.
FReegards!
Kaliningrad is the only Russian Baltic Sea port that is ice-free all year round and hence plays an important role in maintenance of the Baltic Fleet.
Give Kaliningrad back to the Prussians.
Oh, wait.
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.
All good points. He’s doing Lithuania a disservice with this stance, as good as his intentions are.
Well, then. Maybe he should offer to give Putin a foot massage, instead?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.