INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia is suspending imports of bananas and flowers from Ecuador, weeks after Quito agreed to a United States weapons deal that will result
in Ukraine receiving Soviet-era military equipment from the South American country.The Russian agriculture watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, said
in a statement that authorizations for five Ecuadoran exporters were suspended from Tuesday due to the detection of pests.Nine out of 10
bananas imported by Russia come from Ecuador, according to Russian media.The restrictions on certain flower imports will come into force on
Ecuador is one of the world's top exporters of flowers, mainly roses.The decisions come in the wake of Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa's
10 that he had accepted a United States offer to exchange the Soviet-era equipment for modern United States weapons in a $200 million
deal.The United States has said that the Ecuadoran equipment would be shipped to Ukraine to help Kyiv in its conflict with Russia.The deal
has angered Moscow, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova saying last week that Ecuador had made a "reckless decision under
serious pressure from external interested parties."Zakharova added that Ecuador had a contractual obligation to not transfer such equipment
to a third party without Russia's consent.Noboa has said that Quito had every right to conduct the deal because it involved "scrap."The
Ecuadoran leader spoke with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky during the swearing-in of Argentina's new President Javier Milei in
