Russia to hit Ukraine with food embargo over new free trade deal with EU

[webfact]

Russia to hit Ukraine with food embargo over new free trade deal with EU



MOSCOW: -- Russia says a ban on Western food products will also apply to Ukraine from the start of next year when a free trade agreement comes into force between Kyiv and the European Union.

The tension over Ukraine and its closer ties with the EU comes as Brussels agreed to roll over for a further six months its economic sanctions against Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia is also now suspending its free trade deal with Ukraine.

Svitlana Zalishchuk, a ruling party MP in Ukraine, told euronews:
“I don’t think we have to (in any way) consider the situation in Ukraine as the sphere of legitimate interest of Moscow, Russia or any other player, big country, stakeholder in the region.”

The news of a Russian ban on Ukrainian food products came despite new efforts to include Russia in dialogue over the EU-Ukraine trade agreement in Brussels.

Euronews correspondent in Kyiv, Sergio Cantone, reported: “To engage Russia in a trilateral format of negotiation is an idea of the EU in order to appease Moscow.

“But in the eyes of Russia the association agreement between the EU and Ukraine remains a major threat to its trade and political national interests.”


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2015-12-22

[trogers]

Russia does not buy, China will...

[Morch]

With all these limitations on food imports - EU, Turkey, now Ukraine - do Russians face certain shortages when shopping?

How sustainable is this long term? The USA and the EU can pull these things off (boycotts, embargoes, sanctions), but can Russia? Granted, Russians are more familiar with hardship relative to Western countries, and there's a lesser amount of domestic discontent displayed.

Edited December 22, 2015 by Morch

[craigt3365]

Interesting article and worth a read:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34857908

Russia's economy is the 10th largest in the world, producing little of value beyond hydrocarbons.

Corruption and rent-seeking extract an enormous economic toll.

It remains burdened with Soviet era infrastructure, and its ability to meet the educational and medical needs of its population is rapidly declining.

[Ulic]

Russia has lots and lots of natural resources. Maybe more than anyone. They are able to

grow all they need. The problem is they are a 2nd world kleptocracy. Once people make

money they either want out, of at least move assets out of the country to hedge there bets

so to speak. If you want to hurt the elite in Russia, the ones most responsible for decisions,

focus on banning travel and banking for politicians and those owners of businesses with

connections Russian politicians. Ban their families from traveling to western countries as well.