For Poles, apple-eating selfies are a raspberry to Putin's fruit ban
厂迟补谤迟颈苍驳听迟辞尘辞谤谤辞飞, Russia is restricting fruit and vegetable imports from Poland in what looks like payback for European Union (EU) sanctions. And Poles on social media are biting back.聽
A spokesman for Russia鈥檚 Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service told Reuters that the restrictions on produce from Poland 鈥� a hawkish voice in the European debate over Ukraine 鈥� relate to聽鈥渢he violation of certification and 鈥� and aren't a tit-for-tat diplomatic move.聽
But Poles aren鈥檛 buying that. In a statement, Poland鈥檚 agriculture ministry said:聽聽in response to the sanctions imposed by the European Union against聽Russia.鈥澛�
As the world鈥檚 largest apple exporter, Poland will be especially hard hit. Approximately聽聽trade in apples was exported to Russia last year.
Now Poles on social media are using the hashtag聽聽which means 鈥渆at apples.鈥� It鈥檚 not just limited to fresh apples; think cider and apple desserts.
One user went so far as to take an apple-eating selfie in front of the Russian embassy:聽
According to Polish Radio鈥檚 English-language section, the聽聽from business daily Puls Biznesu, 鈥渨hich calls Poles to 鈥榮tand up to Putin.鈥欌�� The paper ran a spread the next day of various tweets and photos.
Polish Radio noted that Polish apples weren't the only fruit in peril. Russia has also targeted 鈥減ears, plums, cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines and quinces.鈥�
While the campaign may seem like a light-hearted way for Poles to show Mr. Putin their ire, Russia has said that it could encompass the entire EU, which sells over $2 billion worth of fruits and vegetables to Russia every year.
A day after the ban on Poland, Russia , specifically juice used for聽fruit drinks for children. Russia said the move was intended 鈥渢o protect the rights of consumers.鈥�
Not the first food war
This isn鈥檛 the first time Russia has turned to food products in disputes with its neighbors. In January, Russia targeted Polish and Lithuanian pork. The Financial Times reported that according to Russia, the pork ban was聽. European officials claimed it was retaliation against these countries for supporting Ukraine and appealed to the World Trade Organization.聽
Other countries have been victims of Russia鈥檚 capricious appetite. Last July Russia banned Ukrainian chocolates and desserts and Moldovan wine. Many read the moves as a message to both countries聽聽with the EU.聽
Ironically, the ban hit Ukrainian chocolate company Roshen especially hard. But its owner Petro Poroshenko had the last laugh: he's now聽Ukraine's president.聽
