Russia prolongs Western food embargo until end of 2019

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to prolong economic sanctions on some Western products. The restrictions will remain in force until December 31, 2019, according to the document published on Thursday. The decree comes three days after the European Union formally extended its economic sanctions targeting Russia, imposed in July 2014 over the Ukrainian crisis. Moscow initially imposed retaliatory measures in 2014, and has been extending the food ban since then.