In the standoff between Russia and the West, economic measures have been as potent as the ordnance in eastern Ukraine. The European Union and the United States imposed sanctions on Russia for its involvement in the conflict, and Moscow responded with its own countersanctions in August 2014. The countersanctions, which focus on restricting agricultural imports, have had mixed results in terms of damaging EU economies, and they have mostly failed to neutralize EU sanctions, much less force meaningful political concessions from Europe. In fact, the European Union extended its sanctions. Russia's economic restrictions instead are likely to be more successful in driving political negotiations with pro-West countries in the EU periphery. Russia's ban of U.S. and EU agricultural products included meat, dairy products, fish and fruit, but exempted items such as wine and spirits, baby food and beverages.