Russia extends embargo on import of certain foreign goods

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to extend the embargo on the import of a number of foreign goods for one more year starting Wednesday.

"The government addressed a letter to me, asking me to extend the measures that we took against the actions of some of our partners from several countries. Today, in accordance with this letter, I signed a decree on the extension of certain economic measures in order to ensure the safety of the Russian Federation," TASS news agency quoted Putin as saying.

On August 1 last year, the European Union (EU) imposed sanctions against Russia in connection with the events in Ukraine and the reunification of the Crimea with Russia and later repeatedly extended them. The latest decision to extend the EU sanctions was made on Monday.

Russia said the sanctions were "unfounded and illegal" and that Moscow will respond in kind. "Russia, naturally, considers these sanctions to be unfounded and illegal, and we have never been the instigators of sanction measures," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

Moscow will act accordingly, he added, referring to the extension of the measures banning imports of European perishables.

"We reiterate, the reciprocity principle is the basis of our approach in the exchange of sanctions," the spokesperson said.