December 23 – The disturbance around “Belarusian potassium fertilizer” continues. Regarding Lithuania’s intention to ban the transit of Belarusian goods, Belarus issued a warning to Lithuania on the 22nd local time, saying or closing the transit passage between Lithuania and Ukraine.
According to the Belarusian News Agency, Belarusian President Lukashenka issued a warning to Lithuania on the 22nd that he might close the cargo transit passage between Lithuania and Ukraine in response to Lithuania’s ban on the transportation of “Belarusian potassium fertilizer” through the port of Klepeda. I don’t understand what Lithuanians are thinking when putting pressure on us. We will close this transit passage and let them transport goods through Germany or Poland, so that their transportation prices will triple. Lukashenka said.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Transport earlier drafted a bill prohibiting Belarus from exporting goods through Lithuania. In the bill submitted by the Ministry of Commerce of Lithuania on the 10th, it stipulated that the legislative government and parliament would impose sanctions on products purchased directly or indirectly supplied from Belarus. This means that once the bill is implemented, the transportation of fertilizer through Lithuania, a large state-owned enterprise in Belarus, will be cut off.
In response to Lithuania’s intention to ban the transit of Belarusian goods, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Zaharova responded on the 16th that the move was a “dead alley” and would have a negative impact on the region. Zaharova stressed that Russia will not ignore the restrictive measures taken by Lithuania. Russia urges partner countries to abide by their international obligations to guarantee the transportation of goods, not to take the path of undermining economic ties, but to make every effort to normalize the situation.
