Russia Strikes Back With Food Ban

Russian Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev announced Thursday that Russia will ban most food imports from the West. The announcement took place during a televised Cabinet meeting, and represents a clear retaliation against Western sanctions on Russia over Ukraine.

The one-year ban includes all imports of meat, fish, fruit, vegetables and milk products from the United States, the European Union, Australia, Canada and Norway.

Russia’s economy will suffer as a result of the move, but Europe’s will likely suffer more. Russia is Europe’s second-largest market for food, and imported a total of $43 billion worth of foodstuffs last year.

The food ban is just one of several ways Russia is maintaining its influence in Eastern Ukraine and its hold on the Crimean peninsula.

The ban came even as fighting in Ukraine intensified. Nato says Russia has mobilized around 20,000 combat-ready troops on Ukraine’s border. These can be used for a full-scale invasion or could enter under the pretext of humanitarian aid.

Whether or not Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to invade remains unknown, but the food ban shows that he is fully prepared to wage economic war.

No one wins in a trade war. The only question is who will lose the most.

What will the West’s next move be in this geopolitical game of power?

Whatever the response is, the Trumpet predicts it will ultimately be Germany, not the U.S., taking the lead in countering Russia. For an idea of what the West’s response may be, read our article “Is Germany Working on a Deal With Russia Over Ukraine?”