Vladimir Putin signed decree baning imports of agricultural products from West

Russian President Vladimir Putin on 6 August 2014 signed a decree that bans imports of agricultural products from all countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia over the crisis in Ukraine. Major sanctions were made by the US and EU.

Putin by targeting the western food exports aims to ensure the safety of Russia and this move threatens to upset trade worth tens of billions of dollars.

Ban on the food imports, should continue for up to one year. The decree that immediately came into force asked the government to draw up a detailed list of products that would be banned.

The decree stating ban on imports of agricultural products would have a heavy impact on Russia, as it hugely depends on imported foodstuffs of which making are from West.

Earlier, Russia banned imports of several fruits and vegetables from Poland after unveiling sanitary violations. It banned imports of beef and cattle from Romania after citing anxiety over outbreak of mad cow disease.

Background
The Western Nations like the US and European Union (EU) has imposed several sanctions on Russia after alleging that Russia is supporting the rebels of Ukraine. They imposed asset freezes and loan bans on a score of individuals and companies.

Russia is accused of annexing Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and creating tensions in eastern Ukraine, Crimea (maximum of which are ethnic Russian) of by supplying arms and expertise to the pro-Russian insurgency.