Food fight: Putin restricts food imports over Ukraine-related sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered government agencies to restrict imports of food and agricultural products from the countries that have imposed sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted a government official as saying that Russia will block all U.S. agricultural imports.

The development came as NATO said Russia had amassed around 20,000 combat-ready troops on the Ukrainian border and could use the pretext of a humanitarian mission to invade.

The text of Putin's decree released by the Kremlin said the affected imports would be "banned or limited" for one year. The Kremlin statement said that Putin's executive decree "either bans or limits ... the import into the Russian Federation of certain kinds of agricultural products, raw materials and food originating from countries that have decided to adopt economic sanctions against Russian entities and [or] individuals."

The decree did not name any specific countries or products, but contains an order to government agencies to spell them out. Government spokeswoman Natalia Timakova told Agence France-Presse that ministers were currently drafting the list of goods intended for future import restriction.

The move follows the latest round of sanctions against Russia imposed by the European Union last week, which for the first time targeted entire sectors of the Russian economy.

Russia depends heavily on imported foodstuffs — most of it from the West — particularly in the largest and most prosperous cities such as Moscow. Agricultural imports from the United States alone have amounted to about $1 billion annually in recent years, and in 2013 the European Union's agricultural exports to Russia totaled $15.8 billion.

State statistics show Russia has imported about a third of its food in the past decade.

The order said the limits are being imposed "with the goal of guaranteeing the security of the Russian Federation" and calls for undertaking measures to guard against quick price hikes.

The move threatens to send the price of Russian food soaring and contribute to an economic slowdown that analysts indirectly attribute to Putin's perceived backing of pro-Kremlin insurgents fighting government forces in eastern Ukraine.

Putin's order on Wednesday appears to show that Russia, although increasingly suffering the effects of Western sanctions, is not inclined to back down on Ukraine. Russia denies allegations that it is supporting the Ukrainian rebels or supplying them with equipment and has rejected claims that its artillery has been firing from across the border.

The situation at the border has U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and others worried. Hagel, who spoke to reporters after meetings with U.S. military leaders in Europe, said there was a growing threat that Russia would invade Ukraine, pointing to the increased buildup of Russian troops along the border. The U.S. also says that Russian continues to train and equip separatists battling the Ukrainian government. 

With fighting escalating and rebels losing ground in the weeks since a Malaysian airliner was shot down over separatist-held territory, Russia has announced military exercises this week in the border region. To date, 1,367 people, civilians and combatants, have been killed, according to the United Nations.

"We're not going to guess what's on Russia's mind, but we can see what Russia is doing on the ground — and that is of great concern. Russia has amassed around 20,000 combat-ready troops on Ukraine's eastern border," NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

Moscow could use "the pretext of a humanitarian or peacekeeping mission as an excuse to send troops into eastern Ukraine," she said. 

A NATO military officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said Russia's buildup at the border included tanks, infantry, artillery, air defense systems, logistics troops, special forces and various aircraft. 

Al Jazeera and wire services