Latvia prepares ban on grain transit from Russia and Belarus

Latvian authorities are working on implementing national restrictions that will prohibit the movement of grain of Russian and Belarusian origin through the country. This initiative has been publicly supported by the head of Ukraine's diplomatic service.

Kyiv's reaction to Riga's moves

On Saturday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted a message on the social network X, welcoming the steps taken by the Latvian Foreign Ministry. He emphasised that the proposed ban on grain transit rightly draws attention to a fundamental security issue.

“Росія намагалася використовувати балтійські держави для транзиту зерна, щоб фінансувати свою війну проти України. Ми побачили ці плани та втрутилися, щоб зірвати їх. І я дякую нашим латвійським друзям за оперативну реакцію та рішучі дії” (Russia tried to use the Baltic states for grain transit to finance its war against Ukraine. We saw these plans and intervened to thwart them. And I thank our Latvian friends for their prompt reaction and decisive actions), Sybiha stated, expressing hope for the swift adoption of the relevant decision.

Details of the draft resolution

The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with other agencies, has drafted a Cabinet of Ministers resolution, which has already been submitted to Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs. The document provides for a ban on the transit of grain originating from Russia and Belarus through Latvian territory.

The Foreign Ministry explains that the mechanism of national sanctions allows for the establishment of specific restrictions, while simultaneously providing for monitoring their compliance and establishing liability for violations.

Risk assessment

The Latvian foreign affairs ministry also draws attention to legal and economic risks associated with the implementation of sanctions. These include potential lawsuits regarding the fulfilment of already concluded contracts, the impact on the transport and logistics sector and state budget revenues, as well as the need to ensure compliance with EU legislation.

According to the Foreign Ministry's assessment, these risks are manageable and cannot be considered an insurmountable obstacle to implementing the ban.