Baltic leaders propose EU ban on Russian grain transit

The leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania sent a joint letter to EU leaders proposing a ban on Russian grain transit through the bloc. Estonia's government announced the appeal on October 9.

The letter was signed by Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda. It was addressed to European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Reuters also reported the proposal.

The signatories argue that Russia is seeking to weaken Ukraine's economy while looking for new routes to export its own grain, including through the Baltic Sea. This is the rationale they offered in support of the proposed measure.

Michal plans to raise the issue at the European Council meeting next week. The letter is a joint political initiative by the three countries. It does not itself impose an EU-wide ban or announce that EU institutions have adopted one.