Brussels: The European Union’s executive warned on Thursday it was ready “to take action” over Russia’s decision to restrict imports of EU food and agricultural products.

“This announcement is clearly politically motivated,” the European Commission said in a statement. “Following full assessment by the Commission of the Russian Federation’s measures, we reserve the right to take action as appropriate.”

The response followed Moscow’s announcement of a “full embargo” against food imports from EU nations as well as other Western countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia over its policy in Ukraine. A Commission spokesman refused to give further details on what action the EU might consider.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev confirmed that the cabinet was also discussing a proposal to ban European and American airlines from flying over Russian airspace en route to Asia. He added that Moscow was also “potentially ready” to introduce protective measures in a number of industrial sectors, including the automobile industry, shipbuilding and aircraft production.

Exports of food and farm products from EU nations to Russia last year amounted to 11.8 billion euros, or 10 per cent of the bloc’s total agricultural exports.

“Russia is introducing a full embargo on imports of beef, pork, fruit and vegetable produce, poultry, fish, cheese, milk and dairy products from the EU, United States, Australia, Canada and Norway,” R Medvedev said.

“The Commission will assess the measures in question as soon as we have more information as to their full content and extent,” the statement said.

“We underline that the European Union’s restrictive measures are directly linked with the illegal annexation of Crimea and destabilisation of Ukraine. The European Union remains committed to de-escalating the situation in Ukraine.”

Earlier, in a tit-for-tat response to Western sanctions imposed last week, the Russian government has placed a one-year ban on imports of agricultural raw and food products from the US, the EU, Australia, Canada, and Norway, Medvedev said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to ban for one year imports of beef, pork, poultry, fish, cheeses, fruit, vegetables and dairy products from the countries which imposed sanctions against Russia.

“The government is ready to revise the one-year term of the imposed measures if the situation changes,” Medvedev said.