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Ukraine is ready to respond with retaliatory measures if Russia decides to introduce embargo and withdraw from a free trade zone on January 1, 2016, Ukraine's Trade Representative Nataliya Mykolska told reporters in Kyiv.
"If they apply these measures - they will see retaliatory measures…We will challenge their illegal restrictions, and in case of their exit from a free trade zone, Ukraine will take appropriate measures," Mykolska said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine and the European Union signed the political provisions of the Association Agreement on March 21, 2014, while the economic provisions concerning Ukraine-EU DCFTA were signed in late June, 2014, following the presidential election in Ukraine.
Read alsoEuropean Commissioner for Trade: We decided that DCFTA would come into force, and Russia will have to accept thatDCFTA was originally expected to start working in October 2014. However, after consultations held by the European Commission, Ukraine and Russia in September 2014, the sides agreed to postpone the introduction of the trade-related provisions until December 31, 2015. At the same time the EU imposed unilateral preferences on Ukrainian exports, while the European goods continue to be subject to duties in Ukraine.
Russia has repeatedly stated that, if DCFTA enters into force, Moscow will be forced to impose an embargo on imports of Ukrainian products.