Russia imposes New Year sanctions on Ukraine

Russia introduced a ban on import of a number of goods from Ukraine. The corresponding decree was signed by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

According to the government press service, the signed decree introduces a ban on imports of goods from Ukraine or transported through Ukraine into Russia, according to the approved list. 

"The majority of the goods that fall under the imposed ban belongs to the industrial category. The list also includes agricultural products, raw materials and food," the government added.

The list of 55 products is in the Cabinet Decree posted on the official website of the government. It includes wheat, sunflower oil, sweets, vegetables, fruits, beer, tractors, paper, turbines, furniture. The ban is also set on chocolate, ethyl alcohol, fruit juices, caviar, fish and canned fish, bread and bakery, equipment for processing of agricultural products, engines and power generators, tractors, gearboxes and variable speed drives, transformers, cables and wires, chipboards, children’s and feminine care products and certain other goods.

Russia can decide on canceling these special economic measures if Ukraine abandons restrictions introduced earlier against specific Russian goods.

On December 18, the Ukrainian government extended embargo on food imports from Russia until 2020. The blacklist of Russian goods has 30 categories, including bread and bakery, chocolates, meat, fish, coffee, black tea, baby food, filtered cigarettes, beer, vodka and other products.

Russia suspended the free trade zone agreement with Ukraine starting from January 1, 2016, after the economic section of Ukraine’s association agreement with the European Union came into force. Besides, Russia’s embargo on European goods, which has been in place since August 2014, was expanded to include Ukraine in early 2016. It prohibits imports of meat, sausages, fish and shellfish, fruit, vegetables and dairy products from Ukraine. Kiev responded with a ban on imports of Russian goods, which came into force on January 10, 2016.