The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in the framework of resolving the situation with the blockade of coal supplies from the occupied areas of Donbas set up in January by several political forces has adopted the rules of goods transportation across the demarcation line, submitted by the SBU Security Service of Ukraine.
The list of goods allowed to for transportation will be finalized later today, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
The relevant decision taken at Cabinet meeting involves defining the legal regime of transportation of goods, including humanitarian aid, and prohibiting the transfer of any goods other than foodstuffs and medication as a humanitarian assistance, as well as goods required to ensure operations of steel-making, coal-mining, and energy companies.
Minister of temporarily occupied territories and IDPs Vadym Chernysh emphasized that the decision regards transportation, not trading, of goods.
”The procedure allows the movement, not trade, and concerns the companies operating in Ukraine,” he said.
In turn, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said that it was a strategically important decision aimed at strengthening energy independence of Ukraine and the position of mining and steel-making industries.
”We`re talking about a critically important set of goods which is necessary to provide central heating and electricity for the people, as well as to ensure that our steel makers operate in favor of our economy,” Groysman said, stressing that he was ready to fully facilitate large-scale monitoring of the movement of goods.
Groysman also added that the decision involves the establishment of checkpoints, which will be engaged in tracking the movement of goods.
”A month later, we`ll be able to analyze the outcome of the decision,” he said.
