The Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have formally requested a ban on Russian grain exports passing through the European Union. In a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the three countries called for an end to shipments of Russian grain via their ports.
The proposal comes after Russia increased grain transits in response to Ukrainian attacks on its Black Sea ports. Estonia has already imposed its own ban on these shipments. The Baltic states argue that the EU should not facilitate Russia's economic compensation for its aggression.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal plans to raise the issue at the next European Council meeting. Meanwhile, Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius suggested that the EU should also target Russian agricultural oligarchs who support the war in Ukraine with sanctions.
The Russian embassy in Estonia criticized the decision, stating that it raises concerns among business circles and society. The embassies in Latvia and Lithuania have not yet responded to requests for comment.