Putin extends ban on western food products

Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended Moscow's embargo on Western food products until the end of 2018.

The embargo comes in response to an EU decision on Wednesday to extend anti-Russia sanctions for six months. The sanctions were first introduced in 2014 over Moscow’s alleged role in the Ukraine conflict. Russia retaliated by banning the imports of food products from the European Union, the US and some other countries. Moscow has pledged to keep the embargo in place until the sanctions against Russia are lifted.