Photo from UNIAN
Social Policy Minister Andriy Reva has publicly opposed the idea of a trade blockade of the occupied territories of Donbas promoted by a group of ATO veterans, according to 112 Ukraine TV channel.
"Has anything of what is happening now ensured an actual blockade of the region? Have the supplies stopped of food and everything that provides life support? Obviously not. What are they blocking then? Apparently, in the dead of winter and frost, we decided to jeopardize the country’s energy independence by blocking the supply of coal from the state-owned enterprises. All the enterprises located in the areas beyond government control are state-owned enterprises, operating under Ukrainian laws and paying taxes to the Ukrainian budget. They supply coal, which is now used by our thermal power plants," Reva said on air of 112 Ukraine TV channel.
Read alsoMinister of Social Policy says what Ukrainian should expect from pension reform"The truth is that Ukraine does not trade with "DPR" and "LPR" [the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk peoples' republics] and does not trade with the thugs. We are getting products that are produced by our own Ukrainian enterprises," the minister added.
He also linked the trade blockade of Donbas with the recent blocking of roads leading to Kyiv by a group of activists demanding that the Rada adopt the law extending the valid term of stay of vehicles with foreign plates.
The minister noted that the same MPs have been involved in the two “blockades.” In his opinion, they are trying in such a way to lobby the adoption of the legislation that would facilitate smuggling goods into the Ukrainian territory or create preferential conditions for car imports to Ukraine.