MADRID (Sputnik) — At the end of July 2014, the EU and the US replaced selective sanctions against individuals and companies with measures against entire economic sectors. In turn, Russia restricted imports of food products from the countries that had imposed sanctions against it. In June 2015, in response to the renewal of sanctions, Russia extended the food ban for a year, until August 5, 2016.
“If the West removes sanctions [against Russia], Russia will immediately lift its trade restrictions, this is not even discussed. This will create even more opportunities for cooperation,” Mr Rapota said at a conference, From Lisbon to Vladivostok – the Problems of Integration in Greater Europe, held in Madrid.
He also said that “the sanctions have certainly narrowed down the space for cooperation between Russia and the West, but certain cooperation is underway… we cannot say that it absolutely stopped.”
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Spain Yury Korchagin along with representatives of state, business and expert communities from Spain, Portugal, France, Hungary, Serbia, Estonia and Uzbekistan also attended the conference, From Lisbon to Vladivostok – the Problems of Integration in Greater Europe, which took place in the format of a working breakfast.
