The Russian Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed it is considering requests from a number of European Union countries to moderate trade restrictions on fruit and vegetable imports.

The Ministry is considering options for a "civilised response" to requests from Greece, Hungary and Cyprus for the trade embargo to be lifted. Restrictions were put in place last year in response to western sanctions over Russia's role in the Ukrainian crisis. 

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

A spokesperson confirmed that Moscow is "in discussions" over the liberalisation of trade. 

It is understood that a number of possible options are being considered. According to a statement released by the Ministry, Agriculture Minister Nikolai Fedoro said there are "two or three" options that Moscow is "close to being able to implement". However, the Minister stressed that Russia does not want to "create difficulties" between Brussels and these EU member states. 

However, there is currently "no final decision" on what – if any – action will be taken. 

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact