Saber rattling or a real threat?

"There is no progress on the Polish side with the aim of solving the customs problems [on Polish meant exports]...Poland has done nothing to calm the fears of the Russian side, declared Siergiej Jastrzembski, who is the Russian Presidents advisor on EU issues. It appears that the arguments over Polish meat exports to Russia are just a pretext. Russian daily Kommersant published an article that a wide ranging embargo that may come into force within three months unless Poland lifts its veto to allow partner co-operation negotiations to begin between Russian and the EU. Fodor Lukjanow, the editor of "Russia in the Global Economy" told Rzeczpospolita, "This is a way of showing everyone who tries to put pressure on Russia that they can expect unpleasant consequences." Unnamed sources in Brussels said that the threat of such an embargo on Poland is unlikely, while another senior official in the EU told Rzeczpospolita that it would kill Russia's chances of entering the WTO. Poland's Economy Minister Piotr Wozniak did not mince his words, "We have had enough of restrictions and attempts to impose more restrictions on our exports. A country which is applying to join the WTO will not doubt also suffer the consequences of its actions. If Russia does go ahead with its threat, its actions are more likely to hurt it than Poland. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1, A2, B2)