Putin doesn't expect Western sanctions to be lifted soon, says Russia to keep countersanctions in place
MOSCOW. April 14 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin does not expect the Western sanctions to be lifted from Russia in the near future.
"I don't think our partners will decide to lift the restrictions and limitations from our country in the near future," Putin said during a Q&A session on Thursday.
"Even though the Minsk Agreements on southeastern Ukraine are being implemented wretchedly poorly, and not because of us, but because of the Kyiv authorities, which everybody understands now, still they seem to be unable to admit that they've gotten into the wrong place and reached a deadlock," he said.
"Therefore, they'll keep making up something and keep these restrictions, and therefore, we will also keep the relevant restrictions on their food's access to our market," Putin said.
"But, if they ultimately come to understand that it's in their best interest to take steps toward canceling the restrictions, then they'll put us in a difficult situation, because, in line with the WTO rules, we will remain unprotected if we keep our countersanctions," he said.
Russia will closely follow the process, he said.
"There are a lot of options to support our agribusiness sector. We see that farmers, in a broad sense of the word, are on the rise with regard to milk, meat, fruits, vegetables, and processing," Putin said.
The president pointed out that Russia has adopted a program of support for its agribusiness sector, which will be implemented.