Maria Zakharova: Russia guarantees Kaliningrad's needs under any circumstances

Russia is capable of providing and guaranteeing the needs of the Kaliningrad region under any circumstances, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday, TASS reported, quoted by Focus.

This statement comes after Lithuania's warnings that it may block transit between Kaliningrad and the Russian mainland. Zakharova stressed that Moscow had learned about the position of Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys from the media and recalled Lithuania's commitments to ensure free transit, including under the agreements with the EU of 2002 and 2004.

"If this is true, we remind Budrys of Lithuania's obligations to ensure unhindered transit to and from Kaliningrad, including those arising from the joint statements of Russia and the EU of 2002 and 2004", Zakharova pointed out.

She stressed that "no one should doubt that the Russian Federation, under any conditions, will meet the needs of its westernmost region".

"We hope that Lithuania will not resort to such a provocative step", Zakharova added.