Putin extended the food embargo for a year
Anti-Russian sanctions were imposed by the EU in the summer of 2014 after the accession of Crimea to Russia. In response, Russia has imposed a ban on the import of certain types of agricultural products, raw materials and food from countries that have imposed anti-Russian sanctions. Among these countries, in addition to EU members, there were: the USA, Canada, Australia, Norway, Ukraine, Albania, Montenegro, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
In January 2018, German Minister of foreign affairs Sigmar Gabriel proposed that the EU begin to phase out sanctions. Britain and France opposed. In March 2019, Vladimir Putin announced Russia's readiness to cancel food counter-sanctions if the EU removes its restrictions. The head of state is confident that Western sanctions "do not achieve the goal."
