Speaking at the 6th International Business Forum in Sochi, Vladimir Putin said:

"Russian health services have closed the import of vegetables from the European Union. We are not pleased about this since it is not autumn, when we have enough of our own products, but only the beginning of summer, and we are in principle interested in receiving these products. But representatives of the European Commission say that Russia's decision is contrary to the spirit of the WTO. Frankly, I don't know what spirit this decision contradicts, but cucumbers that lead to people's deaths after being eaten do indeed have a "bad smell." We are waiting for our partners at least to name the source of the infection. But they themselves cannot understand and figure out what is going on there. We cannot poison our people for the sake of some spirit – people die after eating these products! I will, of course, examine the validity of this decision by our health protection services, but still we are looking forward to the relevant information from our colleagues at the European Commission."