The blockade of trade with separatist-held areas of Donbas has caused substantial economic damage to Ukraine, and the separatists leaders and the Samopomich and Batkivshchyna factions at the Verkhovna Rada are to blame for this, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.
“Obviously, the conduct of our participants in the blockade will cost Ukraine a pretty penny. Estimates will show the precise amounts, and we will claim the damages not only from the self-proclaimed republics, but also from the Samopomich and Batkivshchyna [parties], and other instigators and promoters of this blockade,” the presidential press service quoted Poroshenko as saying at a National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) meeting in Kyiv on March 15.
Poroshenko said that he expects that Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers will analyze the economic aspect of this situation, namely its impact on the economic growth, budget losses and risks for the forex market and the situation in the energy sector.
“What is the situation in the energy sector? This time it is an early spring that has prevented rolling blackouts. And we should ensure the verification of certificates of goods origin whether they comply with World Trade Organization standards when we trade with third countries,” he added.
