Photo from UNIAN
The temporary ban on the movement of goods through the contact line in the Donbas conflict zone will remain in effect until militants return to Ukraine the earlier seized companies, the value of which is estimated at $2 billion, the press service of the Presidential Administration reported, quoting Poroshenko as saying.
"I suggest that the National Security and Defense Council take a decision on the temporary complete stop of transport - and not only railway - communications with the occupied territory. It will operate until the occupiers return the stolen Ukrainian enterprises to the jurisdiction of Ukraine," the president said at a Wednesday meeting of the National Security and Defense Council.
According to Poroshenko, at the behest of Russia, the militants took advantage of the situation with the blockade, having seized and expropriated Ukrainian enterprises.
Read alsoUkraine halts all movement of goods across contact line in Donbas"Local terrorist leaders and Moscow took that pass from a number of Ukrainian political forces. As a result of such synchronized actions, the situation in eastern Ukraine has deteriorated significantly - unfortunately for Ukraine, but not for its enemies. The situation at the front line has also aggravated. In addition, Russia recognized the passports of the so-called 'republics'," Poroshenko said.
Read alsoNSDC instructs NBU, SBU to submit proposals on sanctions against subsidiaries of Russian state-owned banks"And their self-proclaimed leadership, as directed by the Russian Federation, expropriated and seized Ukrainian enterprises. Preliminary value of assets seized assets totals billions of dollars. Part of the owners, to their credit, closed down their production. And those who continue it, of course, should not even expect to sell goods in Ukraine or any country in the world. As a result of the joint efforts of blockade supporters and terrorists, Ukraine lost its enterprises, and this, unfortunately, created a completely new reality," the president said.