Russia: sanctions are counterproductive?

Russia, after the next wave of Western sanctions, has decided not sit back and do nothing and has taken measures in response, about which President Vladimir Putin did warn. These restrictions will affect the supply of agricultural products, raw materials and a range of goods from countries that had imposed sanctions against Russia because of the crisis in the Ukraine.

On Wednesday, the Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree, prohibiting or restricting imports of certain products for a year on the basis of a law on special economic measures that allows him to respond in this way to the unfriendly actions of foreign countries. Anti-Russian sanctions were imposed by the United States, European Union, Switzerland, Canada, Australia and Japan.

The response measures of Russia will help to open "new horizons": negotiations with Turkey and the countries of Latin America, which are interested in supplying their fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products to the Russian market, have already started. In addition, this step will give an impetus to domestic producers and farmers, experts say.