Latvia and Lithuania Mull Blocking Russian Grain Exports
Latvia and Lithuania are considering halting shipments of Russian grain through their ports due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The move comes after Russia redirected its exports to the Baltic Sea following Ukrainian attacks on its Black Sea and Sea of Azov ports.
The Latvian government is set to meet on Tuesday to discuss a potential ban on Russian grain exports, with Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs calling for a mechanism to prevent transit of grain from occupied Ukrainian territories. In contrast, Lithuania's Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius has stated that using Lithuanian infrastructure for Russian exports is unacceptable.
Russia shipped 46.3 million tonnes of grain through Black Sea and Sea of Azov ports in the July 2025, June 2026 season, accounting for 90% of its maritime exports. However, Baltic ports handled approximately two million tonnes during this period.