Lithuanian foreign minister put it plain: with eyes of the world on Syria, «under cover of bigger events» the Kremlin is taking exceedingly unpleasant steps in our region, with far-reaching geopolitical goals in mind.
Editorial: Kremlin’s Lithuania-picking mere tip of iceberg
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Russia customs-bullying Lithuania is part of a bigger power struggle, the Kremlin geared towards obstructing European Union’s Eastern Partnership policy – forcing Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia to forsake any attempts towards Europe, pushing these countries back under Moscow rule via the so-called Eurasian (customs) Union.
Lithuania, however, as EU’s current Presidency, has been planning to host signings of free trade agreements with Eastern Partnership states (except Belarus, already in the Eurasian customs union). Very actively, Lithuania has been defending the Eastern Partnership states, drawing EU’s attention to Kremlin pressurising the latter by customs wars and other like chantage.
Throughout September, vehicles with Lithuanian number plates have been targeted, at Lithuanian-Russian border, with customs procedures of the most gruelling sort; starting September 11th such treatment has been the lot of anyone attempting to carry Lithuanian goods into Russia. This week, Russia announced stricter quality requirements on milk products of Lithuanian origin. Naturally, this equals economic losses both for Lithuanian transport companies and exporters. If that is not Kremlin’s punitive action for protecting Eastern Partnership states, then what is it?
So: what’s the current situation in this geopolitical tug of war? Speedily, President Putin succeeded in pulling Armenia towards the Kremlin-controlled customs union. The result being that Armenia will not be signing any contracts with EU, in Vilnius. With Armenia broken down, Azerbaijan will be next to feel the heat – it is being speculated, if and which steps were mentioned by Mr Putin regarding the Karabakh conflict; these, however, may not be limited to mere customs frustrations. Despite the enormous pressure, Ukraine stands tall, unyielding to Kremlin’s chantage; the Ukrainian government having approved a draft EU association treaty, aiming at signing it in Vilnius. Threats even more cruel were poured on Moldova.
According to Russian vice prime minister, Moldova – should it continue its European aspirations – may lose control over Transnistria and face a cold winter i.e. lose its energy supplies. Moldova has not blinked.
It does feel like EU is about to lose (or: has lost?) the battle in Caucasia; however, North of the Black Sea, pressure by the Kremlin has rather had the opposite effect, motivating Ukraine, Moldova and the EU towards closer cooperation – and faster.