It is unlikely that Russia will lift the ban on imports of Ukrainian meat and dairy products.Sergei Dankvert, the head of Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phitosanitary Inspection, said yesterday, "No concrete agreements are on the cards yet as we haven't received answers from our Ukrainian counterparts to the numerous questions we asked them."
Until the ban was imposed on January 20, Ukrainian produce made up 54% of Russia's overall dairy imports.
Russian Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev, has said, "We realize the impact Ukrainian agriculture is feeling because of activity of unscrupulous market agents." He also blamed the Ukrainian veterinary service, which he said displays total inactivity.
