Putin extends Russian ban on Western food imports for a year, in response to sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Frederic Legrand / Shutterstock)

MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin has extended Russia’s ban on the import of many agricultural products for another year.

The ban was Russia’s response to Western sanctions imposed last year over the Ukraine conflict. The extension was expected after the European Union agreed this week to keep its sanctions in place through January.

Putin said Wednesday that Russia’s ban on dairy products, meat, seafood, vegetables and fruit would remain in effect until June 24, 2016. It affects not only the EU and U.S. but also Australia, Canada and Norway.

He expressed confidence that the import ban would give a boost to Russia’s troubled agricultural sector.

The EU sanctions include limits to access on some financial markets as well as a ban on certain technologies and exchanges in the energy and defence sectors.