In a counter to Western sanctions against its economy, Russia announced a retaliatory ban for all food imports into the Russian Federation from the European Union member states and the United States.
Russia’s annexation of the Crimea region in the Ukraine and its alleged involved in the Donetsk civil war have led to strained diplomatic relationships between Russia and its western counterparts. The downing of Malaysia Airlines MH17 by Donetsk Republic fighters impacted Russia’s already precarious position diplomatically and may have added to the pressure on the European Union and the United States to place economic sanctions on Russia in retaliation.