Russia imposes retaliatory sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown signs of retaliation against the West by imposing sanctions on some imports to the country.

 

In a decree issued today, he ordered that certain agricultural and food imports should be banned from countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia since the Ukraine crisis began.

 

Citing the country's “national interests” as the reason for his decision, he has instructed government departments to come up with a list of products upon which to impose the sanctions. Once active, they will last for a year.

 

In recent weeks the West has increased the severity of its sanctions against Russia for its role in the armed rebellion taking place in eastern Ukraine. It has also been unhappy about the lack of access given to foreign investigators at the crash site of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, which is in a region controlled by pro-Russian separatists. 

 

Last week, Brussels expanded Europe's sanctions to affect sectors of the economy as well as individuals. 

 

Which countries will be subjected to the sanctions has not yet been made clear, but it is thought that the US and Europe will be likely targets. At present, Russia buys fruit and vegetables from the EU worth 2bn euros (£1.6bn) annually, and 1bn euros worth of agricultural products from the US.