Russia's Food Import Ban to Stay Until End of European Sanctions: Minister

NOVO OGARYOVO (outside Moscow), October 13 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will maintain its ban on food imports from EU countries as long as they keep in force their anti-Russian sanctions, Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said Monday.

"Europe must be the first to lift sanctions against Russia," Ulyukayev told reporters.

Moscow has responded to Western sanctions over Ukraine with a one-year food ban that targets a range of products from the countries that implemented sanctions against Russia.