Giving the West a taste of their own medicine, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree Wednesday banning import of food and agricultural products from the countries which imposed sanctions against Russia.
The decree lists food, raw materials and agricultural produce to be either banned or limited for a year. But Alexei Alexeenko of Russia's plant and veterinary oversight service told RIA Novosti, a state news agency, that all products manufactured in the United States and brought to Russia will be forbidden, reports the Associated Press. Also, according to Alexeenko, there will be a ban on the import of all fruits and vegetables from the European Union.
Russia is the largest importer in value of animals, meat, dairy products, fruits and vegetables from Europe. Around 16 percent of all Russian imports represent items from the EU, reports CNN citing figures given by the EU.
"Political instruments of pressure on the economy are unacceptable and contradict all norms and rules. In this connection, the Russian government has already proposed a number of measures in retaliation to the so-called sanctions by some countries," Putin was quoted saying by news agency ITAR-TASS.
According to the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, the measures were taken to protect the country's economy. "We will protect ourselves in a tough, persistent and active manner," Rogozin said, adding that the measures will be announced soon, Rogozin said Wednesday, reports RIA Novosti.
Apart from this, Rogozin also said that the steps were not meant to hurt Russia's Western partners, but would seek to alleviate the impact of the economic sanctions. "They won't be aimed at making things worse for Western companies. It's not in our interests," he said adding that the prime focus is to keep Russia's space and rocket industry afloat.
The decree comes a week after the U.S. and EU toughened economic sanctions against Russia in its effort to threaten the former socialist state for invading eastern Ukraine and annexing Crimea in March. Russia has maintained that it does not support the separatists in the Ukraine.
Reacting to the measure, White House spokeswoman Laura Lucas Magnuson said, "Retaliating against Western companies or countries will deepen Russia's international isolation, causing further damage to its own economy."
Reuters reports that following Russia's food restrictions the country's stocks and ruble fell. "The domestic share market remains under selling pressure against the background of strengthening fears of investors regarding a new turn in geopolitical tensions," Promsyvazbank analyst Oleg Shagov said in a note.
