The Russian government has decided to impose a food embargo against Ukraine following Kiev's decision to join in the sanctions against Russia, Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukaev told state-owned Rossiya 24 television, the TASS news agency reported Wednesday.
The ban is scheduled to come into effect on Jan. 1.
“Since Ukraine joined in the sanctions against the Russian Federation — economic and financial — we have resolved to introduce protective measures in the form of food embargoes,” Ulyukaev said, TASS reported.
He added that European goods may also be affected.
“It is highly likely that we will need to unilaterally protect our market from an uncontrolled inflow of goods from third countries, especially the EU, via the customs territory of Ukraine,” he said.
Ulyukaev mentioned that the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, establishing “deep and comprehensive” free trade between Ukraine and the 28 member states, was set to fully come into force on Jan. 1, 2016, the Kommersant newspaper reported Wednesday.
On Sep. 16, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree introducing sanctions against 388 Russian individuals and 105 legal entities including 29 banks, over 20 air carriers, several military and industrial enterprises, and antivirus software producers.
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