Lithuania Proposes EU Ban on Russian Grain Transit
Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius proposed a European Union ban on the transit of Russian grain and sanctions against agricultural oligarchs supporting the war in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius announced that Lithuania will propose a European Union ban on the transit of Russian grain through the bloc. The proposal includes sanctions against Russian agricultural oligarchs who support the war in Ukraine. Sinkevičius stated that Russia uses European ports and infrastructure, including those in the Baltic states, to export grain, some of which is allegedly taken from occupied Ukrainian territories.
While the EU has imposed tariffs on Russian and Belarusian grain products since 2024, it does not currently prohibit international trade of these products with third countries. Lithuania has already increased inspections of grain shipments from Russia and Belarus, with the State Food and Veterinary Service testing samples of unclear origin at foreign laboratories.
The move follows similar actions by Baltic neighbors. Estonia banned the transit of Russian and Belarusian grain on October 1, and Latvia has called for increased cooperation on border controls to address the flow of agricultural products.
