Latvia, Lithuania Weigh Russian Grain Ban

Latvia and Lithuania are considering restrictions on Russian grain shipments through their ports. Moscow has increased its use of Baltic routes after Ukrainian drone attacks disrupted exports through Black Sea and Sea of Azov ports.

The Latvian government is set to discuss a complete ban on Russian grain exports on Tuesday. Lithuania has not announced plans for a ban, but Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius said allowing Russia to use Lithuanian infrastructure for grain exports was contrary to the country’s values.

Russian grain transiting Lithuania between mainland Russia and its Kaliningrad exclave would not be affected, Sinkevicius said.

Both countries suspect that some Russian grain shipments may originate in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. Latvia is working with Ukraine on a mechanism to prevent the transit of illegally obtained Ukrainian grain.

Lithuanian authorities have taken samples of grain labeled as Russian at the port of Klaipeda and sent them to a laboratory in France to determine whether the grain is actually of Ukrainian origin.

A ban would complicate Moscow’s search for alternative export routes after Ukrainian attacks disrupted its usual Black Sea and Sea of Azov routes. The Russian Grain Union estimates that Russian grain exports through the Baltic states could reach 5m to 6m metric tons this season.

(Reuters, mja)