CRI听力:Putin Imposes Extended Ban on Imported Agricultural Products

Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended a ban on many imported agricultural products for the next year.

The ban, which prohibits most food imports from the United States, the European Union, Australia, Canada and Norway, will be extended to next June.

The list includes fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, milk and dairy.

Putin says the ban serves as a response to Western sanctions on the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

"As the head of the government suggested, we will extend our retaliatory measures by one year, starting from today. I think it will be a good guideline for domestic producers.""

The European Union earlier this week extended economic sanctions against Russia until next January, keeping up pressure on Moscow to help resolve the Ukraine conflict.
　　
The sanctions on Russia's energy, defence and financial sectors were the EU's toughest response to Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and what the EU says is Russia's support for rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Moscow has denied that accusation.