The Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, a new source of tension between Europe and the Kremlin

With its fine sandy beaches, the region of Kaliningrad (Russia) offers a postcard landscape. It has become the scene of tensions between Europe and Russia. Russian tourists are now flown over by helicopter gunships, while offshore, Russia is stepping up military maneuvers. Kaliningrad is an enclave planted in the middle of Europe, bordered by Lithuania and Poland, two countries of the European Union and NATO, on which it depends for its supply. A new powder keg? “It’s all up to us. It’s not Europe here! It’s only ours and we won’t give it to anyone”exclaims a Russian tourist.

At the Lithuanian border, there is a 4 kilometer queue of trucks. Lithuania has decided not to allow any goods to pass under sanction of the EU. 40% to 50% of the supply of Kaliningrad would be concernedaccording to the Russians. A disaster for Igor Plechkovan entrepreneur who owns a concrete factory. However, he does not reproach the Lithuanians. “If our country has unfortunately violated all the rules, all the international laws, could we have expected another response from our neighbors?“he asks. The only solution for the transit of goods is to sail from St. Petersburg (Russia)but the trip is longer and more expensive. For its part, Russia, which “denounces an illegal blockade”threatened “retaliatory measures”reports journalist Luc Lacroix.