MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia could potentially allow imports of agricultural raw materials if western countries agree to invest in processing facilities on the Russian territory, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when responding to Greece’s request to continue fruits import to Russia.
“There are quite straightforward rues of the World Trade Organization. And Russia, as a WTO member, cannot choose: we cannot impose sanctions against EU member states and selectively lift sanctions on one of the countries. In this case it would be possible to develop a scheme of non-direct supplies, such as imports of raw materials with an investment into Russia-based food processing facilities,” Peskov told Russian daily Izvestiya.
In August, Russia was forced to respond to sanctions introduced by the West over Moscow’s alleged role in the Ukrainian crisis with a ban on certain food imports from the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia and Norway. The list of banned products includes meat, poultry, fish, seafood, milk, dairy products and fruit and vegetables.
Peskov said, however, that Russian President Vladimir Putin during his February visit to Hungary stated that the two countries could cooperate in the agroindustrial sector, despite the restrictive measures.
Athens earlier asked Russia to lift an embargo on Greek fruit imports.
