Russia threatens to limit agri-food supplies to ‘friendly’ countries only – POLITICO

Former Russian President and top security official Dmitry Medvedev on Friday threatened to restrict agricultural and food exports only to “friendly” countries of Russia.

In retaliation for the sanctions imposed by the West over its invasion of Ukraine, Russia “will not supply our products and agricultural products to our enemies,” Medvedev warned on his side on Friday telegram Channel.

“We will deliver food and crops only to our friends,” he said, adding that Russia “will sell both for rubles and for its national currency in agreed proportions.”

Medvedev said food is a “silent weapon” in the fight against Western sanctions. “Silent but menacing,” he added.

He also said that Russia will not buy anything from its “enemies”. Back in 2014, it imposed an import ban on selected agricultural products from the EU and other western countries as part of the sanctions following the annexation of Crimea.

Medvedev’s comments come a day after Russia’s Ministry of Agriculture imposed a quota on sunflower oil exports and banned the export of sunflower seeds and rapeseed.

According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Russia is the world’s largest exporter of wheat. Pushing the ban would add another element to a looming hunger crisis.