The European Union executive has said that sanctioned Russian goods can transit through EU territory by rail but stressed the importance of monitoring such shipments.
The European Commission guidance comes after Lithuania last month imposed restrictions on Russian goods traveling across its territory to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, mainly by rail, arguing it was applying sanctions imposed by the EU after Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Moscow demanded that Lithuania immediately lift the restrictions, threatening retaliation if it didn’t, and said it had taken its grievances to European authorities.
The legal guidance released by the EU executive said that while transit by road was not allowed, "no such prohibition exists for rail transport" from Russia to Kaliningrad, with the exception of weapons.
Kaliningrad is wedged between Lithuania and Poland and is connected to the rest of Russia by a rail line through Lithuania.
Vilnius shut the route for transport of steel and other ferrous metals, which it said it was required to do under EU sanctions that took effect on June 18. The transit of nonsanctioned goods through Lithuania to the enclave was not affected.
EU spokesman Eric Mamer said the commission "did not negotiate anything with Russia."
The European Commission said Lithuania, like all EU countries, had an obligation to prevent the circumvention of EU sanctions, but this should be done through "targeted, proportionate, and effective controls and other appropriate measures."
Such controls would detect any "unusual flows or trade patterns" that would indicate sanctions busting, it said.
The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said Vilnius would adhere to the guidance.
But it added in a statement that the previous trade rules blocking many sanctioned cargoes from transport between mainland Russia and Kaliningrad were "more acceptable."
"Kaliningrad transit rules may create an unjustified impression that the transatlantic community is softening its position and sanctions policy towards Russia", the statement said.