Europe finds itself in trap of Russian agrarian import restrictions — expert

Europe finds itself in trap of Russian agrarian import restrictions — expert European countries have found themselves in a trap: by restricting the supply of agricultural products from Russia through sanctions, they are now trying to arrange imports via third countries, Anatoly Tikhonov, head of the Center for International Agribusiness and Food Security at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration saidMOSCOW, August 10. /TASS/. European countries have found themselves in a trap: by restricting the supply of agricultural products from Russia through sanctions, they are now trying to arrange imports via third countries, Anatoly Tikhonov, head of the Center for International Agribusiness and Food Security at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) said in a column he contributed to TASS. The analyst drew attention to the abnormal heat that has hit Europe this summer, calling it an "economic verdict." "Europe, which is accustomed to lecturing the world with ‘green’ directives and carbon protectionism, has suddenly found itself in the role of a food supplicant. The climate pendulum has swung with an amplitude that leaves no room for a subjunctive mood: old Europe is no longer able to feed itself," he explained. According to the expert, today "it is impossible to fill the gap without Ukrainian grain (whose export potential has already been undermined by the heat in the Black Sea steppes and logistical problems), without Brazilian soybeans, American corn, and -- let’s not be shy -- without Russian food. The Western elite has found itself in a trap they set themselves: overstated environmental standards of the ‘green transition’, the removal of millions of hectares from crop rotation for the sake of ‘biodiversity’, and, most importantly, the severance of ties with Russia have led to the situation where Brussels has nothing to offer its own consumers today." Tikhonov said that in 2022, "Brussels solemnly added food to the list of exemptions from sanctions restrictions, loudly declaring that hunger would not become a weapon." However, although food was not formally included in the ban, strict financial and transport sanctions against Russia "made direct trade impossible, and public purchases from Moscow would be a reputational suicide for Western companies." The expert noted that, according to traders, "European importers are now actively developing schemes to purchase Russian grain and sunflower oil through third countries, masking the origin of the cargo. "The European heatwave of 2026 is not so much a weather phenomenon as a systemic stress test for the food architecture built by Western elites to suit their own needs. They are failing this test. Russia, on the other hand, must seize the moment, but also avoid repeating others’ mistakes: it must focus on science, infrastructure, and honest partnership.". TagsForeign policyIN BRIEF: Supreme Court rules to disqualify Yabloko party from parliamentary pollsThe Russian Supreme Court has ruled to uphold a petition by the Rodina party to disqualify the Yabloko party from the upcoming elections to the Russian parliament’s lower chamber, the State DumaRead moreRussian Be-200 aircraft help extinguish wildfires in TurkeyAccording to the Russian embassy, this collaboration has become a good tradition and serves as an example of practical cooperation between Russia and TurkeyRead moreIran focuses on access to frozen assets during talks, US envoy saysUS Permanent Representative to the United Nations Mike Waltz said that Iranians "are constantly asking for access to cash"Read moreOne dies, two wounded after Ukraine’s drone attacks on Belgorod RegionThe local crisis center reported the two injured men were taken to hospitalRead moreChinese company to launch regular container shipments to Europe via Northern Sea RouteThe weekly service will cut the transit time between the two locations by nearly half to 20 daysRead moreRussian forces liberate Vasyutinskoye, Toretskoye in DPR — Defense MinistryRead moreSerbia may leave Kosovo without water for hydropower plant due to oppression of SerbsThe 270-kilometer-long Ibar River flows via Serbia and Montenegro and feeds Gazivode Lake of Kosovo’s largest hydropower plant of the same nameRead moreUS farmer Walker says his family will not be expelled from RussiaAfter Justus Walker’s visit to Russia’s migration office on August 10, Russian Interior Ministry Spokeswoman Irina Volk said that legal status of his family members has been settledRead moreRussia to respond tit-for-tat to Moldova's diplomatic provocations — Foreign MinistryDeputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin indicated that the Moldovan side introduced quotas on the number of embassy staffRead moreSeventy-five people seek medical assistance after drone attack on NizhnekamskTwenty-one of them were taken to hospitalsRead moreVucic says Europe is on brink of larger warApart from that, Serbian President said that he doesn’t think that the conflict in Ukraine could be ended this yearRead moreIsrael rejects 15-point Gaza document, not to withdraw until Hamas disarms — NetanyahuIsrael will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons regardless of whether Washington and Tehran reach an agreement, Israeli Prime MinisterRead moreIN BRIEF: Putin’s statements at State Council Presidium meeting on public transportationAccording to the Russian leader, the law does not yet define the concept of a "guaranteed carrier," but this approach could be promisingRead moreTurkish shipowner to sue Ukraine with ICC for attacks on its vessel — mediaAccording to earlier reports, the Turkish dry cargo ship MV Reyhan Sari, carrying coal from the Russian port of Taman to Trabzon, was attacked by a drone in the Black Sea on July 22Read moreNATO reconnaissance aircraft circles Kaliningrad Region for second time in AugustThe aircraft last flew a similar route on August 4Read moreSeven citizens of Uzbekistan die in drone attack on NizhnekamskThe strikes targeted both industrial and civilian facilitiesRead moreYabloko received money through third parties from US, Germany — financial watchdogAmong the party’s counterparties, there were individuals who made donations via Armenia and IsraelRead moreIN BRIEF: Colombian earthquake: casualties and damageAt least 18 people died in the city of Pereira, Mayor Mauricio Salazar saidRead moreWestern pressure on Georgia regarding Russia has no effect — MFAMikhail Galuzin highlighted that Russia and Georgia’s relationship is rooted in centuries of shared history, culture, and spiritual bondsRead moreUS to unblock Iranian ports after transit through Strait of Hormuz restored — ReutersThe sources emphasized that further US actions will be tied to Iran's fulfillment of its obligations to ensure shipping in the straitRead moreRussia develops latest Fantom camouflage cape, concealing soldier’s silhouetteAt night, the cloak’s materials minimizes light reflection and glare and pronounced contrast to prevent detection by night-vision devicesRead moreMoscow sees legally binding guarantees from West possible — MFARussian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said that Moscow is confident that a diplomatic settlement of the situation around Ukraine is possibleRead moreTrump says economic situation in Iran is deterioratingIran "is in very bad shape" economically due the United States’ naval blockade, US President saidRead moreFACTBOX: Fatalities in Nizhnekamsk, 456 UAV attacks target RussiaAccording to the latest information, 12 people were killed, while 39 people sustained injuriesRead moreEx-IRGC commander appointed secretary of Iran’s National Security CouncilRezaei succeeded Zolghadr, who took office as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council on March 27 following the death of his predecessor, Ali LarijaniRead moreRussian troops strike Ukrainian army’s energy, transport infrastructure over past dayThe Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,300 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hoursRead moreMecca agreement shows regional countries' disillusionment with US — Iranian MFASpokesman Esmaeil Baghaei reassured that there is no cause for concern regarding Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, asserting that the agreement is not aimed at IranRead moreRussia says world bodies’ silence on Kiev attacks on its cities to be seen as complicityAccording to Maria Zakharova, Kiev is deliberately carrying out these strikes, which are meaningless from a military point of view, for terrorist purposesRead moreAtomic bomb survivors accuse Tokyo of undermining Japan’s non-nuclear policyAccording to a statement by the Nihon Hidankyo organization of atomic bomb survivors, Japan is seeking to change the country’s non-nuclear principles and constitution without sufficient debateRead moreSeveral aircraft intercepted over Trump’s gold club in New Jersey — NORADNORAD F-16s intercepted multiple general aviation aircraftRead moreVucic describes Europe’s actions against Russia as 'hybrid war'Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also noted that "Russia is a nuclear power and no one can just attack it"Read moreAlgeria hands over four Russian-made helicopters to NigerAlgeria decided to transfer the helicopters to Niger free of charge "to strengthen the fraternal and historical ties between the two countries"Read moreDeath toll from overnight Ukrainian drone attack on Belgorod up to sixApart from that, two more men sought medical assistanceRead moreMoscow woman welcomes 15th child at 41Nadezhda and Ivan Rogov now have ten daughters and five sonsRead moreDefeat in Kramatorsk to deal massive blow to Kiev — BildThe situation is getting worse day by day, and the frontline is moving closer to Ukrainian positionsRead moreArmed provocations in Transnistria to be regarded as attack on Russia — MFAMikhail Galuzin noted that Moscow assessed the risk of direct armed provocations by Kiev and Chisinau against Transnistria as lowRead moreRussia destroys Ukrainian UAV control post, logistics center in Sumy RegionUnits of the Unmanned Systems Forces use precision-guided UAVs capable of destroying any target throughout Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry saidRead moreKiev, West may be forced to accept Russia’s terms — journalistColumnist Marc Champion pointed out that Ukraine was facing shortages of US-made Patriot missiles due to the conflict between Washington and TehranRead moreTakaichi lacks courage to say who dropped atomic bomb on Japan — MFATakaichi did not mention that the United States had dropped the bomb on Nagasaki when she spoke at a ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of the cityRead moreZelensky leaves Russia no choice but to continue special operation — senior diplomatMikhail Galuzin added that Russia is not shutting the door on the negotiation processRead moreGermany seeking scapegoat over Nord Stream attack — Russian envoyRodion Miroshnik noted that Nord Stream was a major, long-term and mutually beneficial project, with Russia earning revenue from gas supplies and Europe receiving a steady supply of relatively cheap energy that supported economic growthRead moreBrazilian, Spanish mercenaries surrounded near Kharkov — Russian defense sourceAccording to the source, "nationalists from the reconnaissance battalion of Ukraine’s 425th Separate Assault Regiment have been tasked with evacuating the mercenaries"Read moreRussia, Syria agree on transferring facilities in Tartus to Syrian sideDamascus and Moscow had signed a memorandum envisaging the reorganization of Russian military bases in Syria as centers for joint troops training, the country’s General Authority for Ports and Customs saidRead moreSpanish specialist behind disclosure of 400 spies linked to NATO, Ukrainian intelligenceAccording to Enrique Arias Gil, among these 400 people were officers holding the ranks of brigadier general, colonel and lieutenant coloneRead moreUS redirects 55 vessels since resuming maritime blockade of Iran — CENTCOMUS forces have also disabled 2 vesselsRead moreSyrian Civil Aviation Authority takes control of Latakia AirportThe next step is to renovate the airport so that it can handle international flights again, Syria’s Civil Aviation Authority said Read moreBulgarian Foreign Ministry expresses concern about Ukrainian drone falling near envoyThe top Bulgarian diplomat also noted that Bulgaria needs to take steps to prevent such incidents in the futureRead moreKalashnikov modifies Vikhr missile to combat UAVs as armored vehicles withdraw — CEOThe company initiated modifications to the missile by fitting it with a non-contact target sensorRead moreGermany likely to respond to Nord Stream blasts with only formal measures — Russian envoyRussian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik opined that Germany should assess the massive losses and seek compensation from Ukraine under international lawRead moreIN BRIEF: Russian preparing terrorist attack on military detained in KhersonThe man has admitted guilt and is actively cooperating with the investigation, the Russian Federal Security Service reportedRead moreTrump appoints Will Scharf as White House CounselThe US leader pointed out that Will Scharf "has done an amazing job" in his current role as White House staff secretaryRead moreNATO specialist supplies Ukraine with coordinates of Russian oil terminals — hackersAccording to the information obtained by hackers, Bart De Wachter currently is affiliated with Hybrid Analyze Vigilant Network, an organization connected to Special Operations Forces and NATO intelligenceRead moreMoscow open to new Ukraine proposals that take Russia’s interests into account — MFARussian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin emphasized that Russia’s principles and approaches "on which a long-term and fair settlement should be based have not changed"Read moreAgricultural exports from Ukraine fall 60% in early August — statisticsExport revenue fell by 38.4% from $326.9 mln to $201.5 mlnRead moreUS expects Israel to follow its Gaza requests despite Netanyahu’s statements — AxiosAccording to a US official, the White House is "not bothered" by Benjamin Netanyahu’s statements that Israel rejects the Board of Peace’s 15-point plan for the Gaza StripRead moreRussia calls for abolishing Office of High Representative for Bosnia-HerzegovinaThe latest attempts by Western countries to extend the OHR’s presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina through behind-the-scenes maneuvers bypassing the UN Security Council are untenable, Yury Pilipson, director of the ministry’s second European department, toldRead moreTatarstan residents killed as result of drone attack on civilian facilities — region headRustam Minnikhanov expressed his condolences to the families of the deceasedRead moreRussian woman swims across river to flee Myanmar scam centerTourist police officers took her to a local hospital, where she is receiving the necessary assistanceRead moreRussian forces strike military airfield, Ukrainian infrastructureRead moreMoscow rejects option of 'freezing' Ukraine conflict, Russian deputy foreign minister says"Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that no 'freeze' is possible without eliminating the root causes of this crisis," Mikhail Galuzin emphasizedRead moreKiev suffers 9,600 troop, mercenary losses in combat over week — Russian military expertAndrey Marochko said the greatest manpower losses were inflicted on Ukrainian armed formations in the area of responsibility of Battlegroup East, operating in the Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye regionsRead morePutin speaks on Russia's demographic situation, balancing act of modernizing citiesThe President noted that Russian cities should not lose their historical character amid modernization effortsRead moreTwo killed, seven wounded in Ukraine’s drone attacks on DPR during dayAs a result of attacks, three residential houses and four civilian infrastructure facilities were damagedRead moreKiev may be handed bill for Nord Stream pipelines at later date — Russian envoyAccording to Rodion Miroshnik, Germany has now chosen a strategy of prolonging the investigationRead moreAI access to data on nuclear weapons could turn against humanity — lawmakerAndrey Svintsov recalled that AI agents have repeatedly escaped human control. In particular, companies Anthropic and OpenAI reported cases of their AI agents escaping beyond the space designated for testingRead moreMore than 130 Ukrainian drones shot down in Kursk region over past 24 hoursThe Ukrainian military fired artillery 38 times against evacuated areasRead moreRussian deputy PM states need to establish railway link to Indian OceanRussia’s construction industry currently demands long-term financing, the official stressedRead moreHelicopters better than missiles shoot down UAVs over Russian territory — Kalashnikov CEOAccording to Alan Lushnikov, as a result of the Vikhr missile upgrade, the company has obtained a sufficiently effective means of combating fixed-wing UAVsRead moreMoscow remains committed to Anchorage agreements at this stage — deputy foreign ministerMikhail Galuzin stressed that resolving the situation around Ukraine through diplomatic means is possible if there is the necessary political willRead moreSecurity forces destroy suspicious object found under car in southern MoscowThere were no reports about injuriesRead moreIranian missiles have ability to change trajectory after launch — IRGCHossein Mohebi, spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, highlighted that modern warfare became a battlefield of technological innovationRead morePress Review: EU seeks to prolong Ukraine conflict and NATO prepares Arctic opsTop stories from the Russian press on Monday, August 8thRead moreFAZ journalist's comments must be legally assessed — Russian embassy in SerbiaThe diplomatic mission noted that Michael Martens' remarks could incite hostility or intolerance towards RussiansRead moreDeath toll from drone attack on Nizhnekamsk climbs to 13Russian Investigative Committee Spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko said that a child was among the victimsRead moreAnti-Russian sanctions hit back on Europe — Russian diplomatThese restrictions are hitting back hard on those who devised them, and the situation with the Greeks has once again clearly confirmed this, a high-ranking Russian foreign ministry official told TASSRead moreRussian strikes paralyze Ukraine’s southern power grid — officialYevgeny Poddubny said the damage to the energy infrastructure in the southern regions of Ukraine is of particular importanceRead moreUS Ukraine policy contradicts pursuit of peace — Russian deputy foreign ministerMikhail Galuzin noted that Washington does not consider itself a 'neutral mediator'Read moreSyria, Russia sign memorandum on future of Russian military basesThe Syrian Foreign Ministry expressed hope that the document would "open a new chapter in relations between Russia and SyriaRead moreRussia’s Battlegroup West shoots down over 100 Ukrainian heavy hexacopters over past dayThe battlegroup’s service members also destroyed 63 UAV control centers, three Starlink satellite communication stationsRead moreMojtaba Khamenei in good health, although video with him is old — Iranian sourceHe avoids appearing in public due to security considerations, an Iranian source toldRead morePutin arrives in Buryatia Region on working tripThe head of state is expected to take part by videoconference in a ceremony marking the commissioning of the Yermakovsky Mining and Processing PlantRead moreIN BRIEF: Drone attack on Nizhnekamsk kills thirteen people, including childAccording to the investigation, Ukraine used drones to strike residential areas and industrial facilities in NizhnekamskRead moreEnvoy condemns France’s attempts to blame Russia for wildfires in EuropeRussian Permanent Representative to the international organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov asserted that French officials do not respect their own populationRead moreMusk denies Kiev assistance in targeting strikes against Russia — magazineAccording to The Atlantic, the US entrepreneur keeps saying that it’s time to make a dealRead moreUkrainian nationalist units replenish ranks with mobilized citizens — Russian commanderAkhmat Special Forces Commander Lieutenant General Apty Alaudinov said that most of the ideologically committed Ukrainian nationalist have been killed on the battlefieldRead moreRussia, Slovenia exchange messages for first time in four years — MFAYury Pilipson welcomed the evidence of sound judgment among European politicians who "advocate restoring dialogue with Russia"Read moreRomania provides direct military support to Ukraine — Russian diplomatYury Pilipson noted that the port of Giurgiulesti had been turned "into a transit hub for delivering various cargoes to Ukraine"Read moreGeneral Prosecutor’s Office calls for removing Yabloko candidates from Duma electionsThe prosecutor cited receiving foreign funding and violating legislation on combating extremism among the groundsRead moreUkrainian drone attack on Nizhnekamsk constitutes war crime — MFAAmbassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik said a decision had been made to declare mourning across the regionRead moreNo official talks with Germany on Ukraine held in Baku — Russian deputy foreign ministerMikhail Galuzin still highlighted the existence of informal contacts between representatives of public groupsRead moreRUJ demands dismissal of FAZ journalist for remarks about 'killing Russians'Chairman Vladimir Solovyov condemned Michael Martens’ conduct as a blatant breach of both journalistic ethics and moral standardsRead moreItalian PM faces growing pressure over support for Ukraine — mediaAccording to the report, Giorgia Meloni is also "hardening her tone" on migrationRead morePress review: US halts Iran strikes as Pentagon develops nuclear plan for Russia, ChinaTop stories from the Russian press on Thursday, August 6thRead moreEU now faces self-made energy crisis — RIDF CEOCEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev stressed that the main reason for this is the refusal to buy Russian gasRead moreGerman FAZ journalist hit with petition demanding his dismissal for remarks about RussiansThe initiators believe that Michael Martens "crossed the boundaries of journalistic impartiality"Read moreNadezhda ship, attacked near Russia’s Novorossiisk, towed to Turkey’s SamsunA survey of the ship revealed extensive damage to its deck, cargo holds and engine room, which effectively reduced it to a pile of scrap metalRead moreNumber of people injured in drone attack on Nizhnekamsk climbs to 48All the injured are receiving qualified medical assistanceRead moreRosatom begins returning specialists to Bushehr NPPThe total number of Russian specialists has reached 25Read morePress review: NATO expands Black Sea presence and raises risks as Hormuz deal sparks hopeTop stories from the Russian press on Friday, August 7thRead moreSupreme Court rules to disqualify Yabloko party from parliamentary pollsThe Yabloko party has five days to appeal the rulingRead moreTelegram co-founder Durov says his brother working on ‘real AI’He said thet his brother's future AI will differ from current large language models and will be able to "understand the world"Read more