It has emerged today (Thursday) that Russia is extending the ban on the importation of European food until 5 August 2016.

The news comes only days after the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced Russia would extend the ban up until the end of January 2016 following a decision at EU level to continue economic sanctions against the country for its military interference in the Ukraine.

In July 2014, Russia announced that it was imposing a 12-month ban on food from western nations in response to sanctions placed by the EU on Russia over the conflict.

A statement from the European Union following a conference in Luxembourg this week said Russia’s actions were playing a “destabilising role in Ukraine”.

The ban on European imports into Russia covers beef, milk and dairy products and sausages.

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