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The so-called trade blockade of Donbas prevents Ukraine’s European partners from taking a decision to impose additional targeted sanctions against Russian companies or intermediaries who will continue any relations with the militant-expropriated Ukrainian enterprises located in the occupied territories, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Lostyantyn Yeliseiev told Hromadske.
Such sanctions envisage two stages: the first one warns about the responsibility of Russian businesses and militants in case of an illegal seizure of Ukrainian enterprises, according to Yeliseiev, Hromadske reported.
"And the second stage is introducing targeted sanctions, first of all, against Russian businesses or intermediaries, in case this raider seizure takes place. For example, if some enterprise is seized, they will only be able to sell its products in the territory of the Russian Federation. And if some Russian enterprise buys these products, we will ask our European partners and the U.S. to introduce targeted economic sanctions against such an enterprise," Yeliseiev said.
Read alsoGroysman estimates Ukraine's losses over coal blockade He added that it is "quite realistic" to reach such agreements, but to have them implemented, "something needs to be done about this blockade."
"Our partners are telling us directly that ‘under these conditions, we cannot impose sanctions, because you are punishing yourself’, " said the deputy head of the presidential administration.
Read alsoFT: Rail blockade by Ukraine patriots creates headache for KyivHe has added that Russia has been using the "blockade" to destabilize the situation in Donbas.
As UNIAN reported, on February 27, the leaders of the terrorist organizations “DPR” and “LPR” demanded that the Ukrainian activists lift the blockade of the occupied territories before March 1, threatening to introduce interim administrations at all enterprises of the Ukrainian jurisdiction that operate in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Militants have announced that they will reorient all production processes to work for the markets of Russia and other countries.
Read also"DPR" leader Zakharchenko's tapped conversation reveals beneficiary of Ukrainian assets' "nationalization" On March 1, "DPR" and "LPR" announced the "nationalization" of all Ukrainian enterprises. And on March 2, the “DPR” published a list of 43 expropriated businesses.
On March 3, the self-proclaimed leader of the “DPR” militants Alexander Zakharchenko announced the "blockade of Kyiv [-controlled territories]."
In late January a group of Donbas war veterans and some Members of Parliament initiated a blockade of rail tracks used to transport anthracite coal from the temporarily uncontrolled areas to Ukraine's thermal power stations.
The Ukrainian government reported the coal supplies stalled on February 10, 2017.
Read alsoZakharchenko "burning bridges": declares own "trade blockade" of Gov't-controlled areasParticipants in the blockade also declared their intentions to block all railway stations and highways along the contact line until their main demands are met: the release of Ukrainian POWs and the adoption of the law on temporarily occupied territories.
Besides, the blockaders stated they intended to seize effective control over eight major railway crossings essential for trading with Russia.
The rally participants have been calling on Ukrainians to support nationalization of Russian businesses operating in Ukraine.