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Russia blocks Ukrainian trucks in revenge

Xinhua, February 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

Russia on Sunday suspended movement of Ukraine-registered commercial vehicles on its territory, in response to the blocking of Russian cargo vehicles by Ukrainian nationalists in the latest spat between the two countries.

"These measures will remain in force until the situation with the illegal blockade of Russian cargo vehicles on the territory of Ukraine is settled," the Russian Ministry of Transport said in a statement.

It is reported that nationalist groups in western and northern Ukraine on Saturday started blocking roads to impede the transit of Russian trucks through the country.

"Russia's appeals have been unanswered, as the Ukrainian side has taken no measures to put an end to the illegal actions of certain groups and to ensure free movement of Russian trucks," the ministry said.

More than 100 Russian trucks carrying goods to the European Union (EU) were blocked in different Ukrainian regions, while 500 others returning from the EU had been denied entry to Ukraine, said the ministry, noting that 1,038 Ukrainian trucks were admitted to Russia on Feb. 11-12 alone.

Russia has taken a series of restrictive measures against Ukraine, including the suspension of a Russia-Ukraine free trade agreement in response to Kiev joining a free trade zone with the EU.

Besides, Moscow has imposed a total ban on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine since Jan. 1, while restricting the automobile and railway transit of goods from Ukraine via Russia.

For its part, Kiev has canceled preferential import duties on a range of Russian goods and imposed an embargo on some products made in Russia. Endi