“No blockade of Kaliningrad is taking place. It's just that sanctions have been applied to some goods included in the so-called sanction package since last weekend, particularly steel and ferrous metals, and railway clients or contractual parties have been informed of these sanctions and made aware that they cannot be transshipped and transported. All other goods that are not under sanctions, as well as passenger transit for which there is a special agreement between the European Union, Russia, and Lithuania, are being transported. Lithuania's good will is evident from the fact that it did not sever the agreement on passenger transportation with Russia when the latter was unable to pay for it due to international sanctions imposed on its banks. There were situations in that period when, say, due to certain restrictions applied to banks, Russia was unable to pay for the transportation of passengers, which would have formally been a reason for severing the contract. And yet transportation continued, we continued to follow the contract, and financial institutions were found through which payments were made and debts settled.”

by: Ingrida Simonyte