Baltic Embargo Debate: Russia’s New Trade Routes and Regional Impacts

The Baltic states have faced a challenging set of trade moves from Moscow, yet observers argue that a broad embargo would not cripple the Russian economy. In a discussion aired on NSN, Vladimir Matyagin, who leads the National Road Transport Association Gruzavtotrans, explained that Moscow appears to have shifted toward deeper cooperation with other partners, notably Turkey and China. He noted that these choices reflect a calculated move away from the Baltic region, underscoring how the Baltic economies are not positioned as meaningful intermediaries for Russian trade. Instead of relying on these smaller economies, Russia seems to be pursuing more direct routes that bypass them altogether, a strategy that has the potential to reshape regional logistics and pricing.