International sanctions

The European Union (EU) has readiness to tighten sanctions against Russia, by extending its ban on investments in the Crimea.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has voiced his expectations from Turkey to join the economic sanctions campaign against Russia over the Ukrainian crisis.

 His comments come on the day when Russia and Turkey were set to hold talks to increase the trade volume from the current $33 billion to $100 billion by 2020.

Twenty-seven percent of Germans believe the current sanctions against Russia imposed by the EU and the US should be scrapped, a new survey has shown.

According to the survey, 19% of those polled think that tne current scope of sanctions should be expanded, while 43% consider the sanctions adequate.

The poll was conducted among 1,023 Germans by ARD TV channel.

Turkey is expected to record a large increase in white meat exports to Russia this year, after Moscow applied a series of sanctions on food imports from the European Union and the United States, sector representatives said in a Nov. 6 press meeting.

When Russia imposed a one-year embargo on food products from the EU in August, the news caused little stir among Romanian dairy producers as the total value of their exports to Russia was only around 1 million euro per year.

Two months later, they are feeling hard hit by the embargo, as many cheaper EU products have since flooded the Romanian market.

Turkish food exporters are seeking cuts in Russian import duties to boost their share of the vast Russian market where Western food imports have been banned.

According to Zechariah Mete, chairman of Turkey's association of grocery products exporters, they are not seeking preferential treatment by Moscow.

New European Union sanctions targeting Russia over the crisis in Ukraine went into force on Friday, despite the threat of retaliation from Moscow.

EU urged to "keep up pressure" despite "slight differences"

ROME -- British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon says the EU must continue the pressure on Russia because it is evident that sanctions are producing results.

The EU may file legal action the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the Russian food embargo, according to EU Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht.

De Gucht said in an interview for German newspaper Frankfurter Algemeine Zeitung that the complaint was being prepared and it could be filed in mid-September, adding that no final decision had been made on the step.

Prime Minister Vucic said on Friday that Serbia would “respect the will of the European Union" when it comes to the Russian ban on EU food imports.

"EU membership is our main goal," he added, noting at the same time that Serbia intended to "maintain good relations with the Russian Federation".