Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has called on the government to analyze the possibility of expanding its list of countries covered by counter sanctions, website Tass.ru reported.

Dmitry Medvedev. Photo: Kremlin, via Wikimedia Commons

If enacted, the proposal could potentially see the inclusion of six new nations in laws that prevent a wide range of food imports - including fruits and vegetables - from the EU, Norway, the U.S., Canada and Australia.

The story reported Medvedev did not name any specific countries, but highlighted Montenegro, Albania, Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein, Ukraine and Georgia reaffirmed to the EU Council they would prolong their participation in the EU's sanctions Crimea and Sevastopol until June 23, 2016.

"I would ask the Ministry of Agriculture and the government's administration to clarify this issue and, if necessary, to prepare an appeal of the government to change those acts, which we approved earlier, and proposals how to supplement the decree of the president." Medvedev was quoted as saying, in reference to the fact existing counter sanction laws do not cover nations that did not previously support sanctions against Russia.

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