Ukraine broadens ban on Russian goods

Ukraine broadened its ban on Russian- made goods on Wednesday in the latest round of trade row with Moscow, which ignited after Kiev entered a landmark free trade agreement with the European Union (EU).

More than 70 kinds of goods produced in Russia were added to the existing embargo list that covered 43 items, the Ukrainian government said in a statement.

Commenting on the expansion of the import ban, Ukrainian Deputy Trade Minister Natalia Mykolska said it will primarily apply to food products, in particular, vegetables, confectionery, different kinds of sauces and some types of fish.

The existing sanction list, apart from the food items, also included cigarettes, agricultural fertilizers, cosmetics, railway equipment and diesel-electric locomotives.

Since a preferential trade regime between Kiev and the EU came into force on Jan. 1, Moscow has suspended its free trade agreement with Ukraine and banned food imports from the neighbor to protect its market from European re-export.

In retaliation, Kiev has cancelled the preferential import duties on a range of Russian goods and imposed an embargo on some products made in Russia.