Vladimir Putin on the issue of lifting restrictions on supplies to Russia of Turkish tomatoes is guided by the interests of Russian producers. This statement was made by press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov. His words TASS reports.
“When it comes to tomatoes (temporarily prohibited to import from Turkey to Russia – approx. Rambler) and visas (if travel of Turkish citizens to Russia – approx. Rambler), here at the forefront for Putin – the interests of our producers and the interests of our citizens in terms of security,” – said Peskov.
Such a position Peskov called “completely normal” as “the main argument in establishing good relations is mutual benefit”. A Kremlin spokesman added that the logic of relations of Moscow and Ankara is pushing countries to expand cooperation.
On may 3, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia and Turkey have reached an agreement on the lifting of restrictions in mutual trade. His statement the President made at a press conference following talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. However, Putin noted that to lift the ban on import to the Russian market of Turkish tomatoes is impossible, since Russian producers have already taken loans for their own production. Abrupt withdrawal of restrictive measures will inflict heavy damage to domestic households. Moscow imposed an embargo on a number of products from Turkey 1 January 2016 after the Turkish military shot down a Russian su-24 in Syria. In October 2016, a portion of the sanctions were lifted. Currently banned are the supply of frozen meat and offal of chickens and turkeys, tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, pears, strawberries and fresh grapes.