The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine on Wednesday decided to stop the movement of goods across the line of demarcation in the zone of the Anti-Terrorist Operation, considering the earlier expropriation of Ukrainian companies in the militant-controlled areas and escalation at the frontline, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksandr Turchynov said following an NSDC’s emergency meeting.
Earlier Ukrainian government intimidates with consequences of trade blockade Russia-occupied Donbas: electricity blackout, devaluation, $2 bln losses.
“Ukraine may lose up to $2 billion and the national currency exchange rate will weaken due to the blockade of Russia-occupied Donbas”, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman says there will be no alternative to anthracite coal produced in occupied areas in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, in the next 1-3 years.
The so-called trade blockade of Donbas prevents Ukraine`s European partners from taking a decision to impose additional targeted sanctions against Russian companies or intermediaries who will continue any relations with the militant-expropriated Ukrainian enterprises located in the occupied territories, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Lostyantyn Yeliseiev told Hromadske.
But after protests sweep across Ukraine government changed its position.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine was instructed to urgently develop and implement an action plan to ensure safe and reliable operations of Ukraine’s fuel and energy and steelmaking industries, analyze the negative effect on the country’s economy and budget, and take measures to minimize it. Also, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Guard, the National Guard and the Security Service of Ukraine were instructed to take additional measures to strengthen public security and counteract diversions and terrorist acts, as well as attempts to violate public order.
