Bundestag calls to ban agricultural imports from Russia and Belarus
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
The call for intensified sanctions on agricultural products from Russia and Belarus echoed through the chambers of the German Bundestag, according to Der Standard.
"We in Germany and Europe are not reliant on Russian grain," declared Albert Stegemann, the spokesperson for the parliamentary group on agricultural policy. He emphasized that the Russian autocrat, Vladimir Putin, leverages exports solely to finance his militaristic economy.
"This must be halted. Merely increasing tariffs on Russian grain is insufficient," the politician said.
In light of this, the CDU/CSU faction aims to advocate for a "complete ban on the import of all agricultural goods and food products from Russia and Belarus" within the Bundestag.
The proposal also urges the German government to take parallel measures for an import ban at the national level if consensus at the EU level proves elusive in the near future.
Sanctions against Russia and Belarus
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Union and its partner countries have consistently imposed sanctions against Russia and its allies supporting the aggression. Among those affected by sanctions is Belarus, whose leadership demonstrates a close alignment with Russia.
The self-proclaimed leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, maintains open diplomatic relations with the Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin, thereby showcasing his political loyalty.
Belarus's stance on the war hasn't gone unnoticed. Previously, it was reported that agriculture ministers from five European countries proposed to the European Union to ban grain imports from Russia and Belarus.
