Russia prepared to hold out on economic embargo – Putin

Speaking in front of intergovernmental and industry group, the All National Front, on Tuesday, Russian president, Vladimir Putin, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to maintaining the embargo on agricultural products from the West, at the same time lamenting the sanctions imposed upon the country. “We'll drag out (the lifting of the embargo), for as long as possible," he said.  He mentioned that although he was concerned about the negative effects that Western sanctions were having on Russia, the embargo against Western agricultural producers – such as Poland – was imposed mainly in order to protect its own market. “We did it consciously and actually used these short-sighted decisions that have been taken against our country by our so-called partners, who have introduced these sanctions.” The EU and other Western countries imposed sanctions on Russia, after it annexed Crimea and supported pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine in the spring of 2014. In August of 2014, Russia introduced a ban on imports of fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, milk and dairy products from the US, EU, Canada, Australia and Norway. In 2015, restrictions were extended until August 2016, and in June this year, to the end of 2017.