Putin about food embargo: We will delay as long as possible

President Vladimir Putin, responding to a question made at “Forum of actions” of All-Russia people’s Front said that the Russian embargo on food imports from the EU will continue "as long as possible".

At the forum, which was held on Tuesday in Moscow, Putin responded to the request of the representative of Kaliningrad Victor Hoffmann "in any case not to cancel the sanctions, because we depend on them". Hoffmann referred to a German entrepreneur who runs business with him and purchases meat for production of sausages.

"I see. I can whisper into your ear: we'll delay as long as possible," — said Putin to the businessman.

Hoffman explained his request by the fact that the existence of counter-sanctions is beneficial to the entrepreneurs working in the field of agriculture.

The President in his turn urged not to call "sanctions" the restrictions on the importation of certain agricultural products to Russia from abroad. They were not sanctions but "response measures" aimed at protecting the domestic market, he corrected the representative of All-Russia people’s Front.

According to Putin, the consumer is interested in how to get good quality goods. "Of course, all manufacturers in the country want this situation to continue as long as possible, he said. But now I am going to say an unexpected and may be criminal in your opinion, thing: the consumer is interested in how to get good quality goods at the lowest price so we need to create competitive conditions".

The food embargo was introduced in Russia in response to sanctions of some Western countries following the annexation of the Crimea to Russia and the beginning of the military conflict in Eastern Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea. In August 2014, Putin signed a decree limiting the import of some goods from the USA, EU countries, Canada, Australia and Norway. Later its effect was extended to Albania, Montenegro, Iceland and Liechtenstein and Ukraine.

The list of prohibited import products includes: beef, pork, poultry, fish, cheese, milk, fruits, vegetables and other categories products.

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