Putin extends restrictions on transit of Ukrainian goods through Russia
President Vladimir Putin has extended a decree prohibiting the transit of goods from Ukraine to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan through Russian territory until June 30. The corresponding document was posted on the online portal for legal information.
The Russian President signed the decree on December 30, but it appeared on the portal on Thursday, January 4.
In 2016, Putin modified his decree limiting the transportation of Ukrainian goods through Russia to include a total ban the transit of goods subject to food sanctions. An additional ban was imposed on the transportation of goods subject to import customs duty rates above zero set by a single tariff of the Eurasian Economic Union, which includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called such restrictions "economic aggression" by Russia. In January 2017, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure for European Integration Viktor Dovgan estimated that Ukraine suffered losses of more than $1 billion in 2016 due to Russian transit restrictions.
In December 2017, the Ukrainian government extended the ban on the import of goods from Russia until December 31, 2018. In addition, the list of prohibited Russian goods expanded to include polyethylene with a specific gravity of 0.94; polyvinyl chloride and mineral fertilizers; and ammonium sulfate a mixture of ammonium nitrate with calcium carbonate or other inorganic substances that are not fertilizers.
In early 2016, Ukraine imposed a ban on the import of a number of goods from Russia, and suspended its agreement on a free trade zone. The ban included beef, pork and poultry meat, fish, vodka, beer, filter cigarettes, confectionery and other products. An embargo was also imposed on insecticides and herbicides of Russian origin, locomotives, and railway equipment.