TALLINN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have called on the European Union (EU) to ban the transit of Russian grain through its territory, according to a statement released by the Estonian government on Friday.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, his Latvian counterpart Andris Kulbergs and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda sent a joint letter to European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging additional restrictions on Russian grain shipments.
The three leaders argued that Russia was seeking alternative routes for its grain exports, including through the Baltic Sea, while attacks on Ukrainian ports, cargo vessels and railway infrastructure were disrupting Ukraine's access to international markets.
The leaders also called for measures to prevent grain allegedly taken from Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine from being transported through EU territory.
In addition, they urged the EU to strengthen the Solidarity Lanes Action Plan, which provides alternative transport routes for Ukrainian exports to reach global markets. Editem
