Ukraine Moves to Mirror Russia's Import Ban on Animal Products

Ukraine announced Thursday that it would impose a ban on animal product imports from Russia within a matter of days, according to acting Agriculture Minister Olexander Baranivsky. The minister cited inadequate quality of Russian goods as the reason for the measure.

The move follows a Russian ban enacted on 18 January that blocked Ukrainian meat and dairy products on quality and consumer safety grounds. Moscow later lifted the restriction for certain Ukrainian dairy producers, but the episode had already dealt heavy financial damage to an industry that relies heavily on the Russian market.

Ties between the two neighbors have grown increasingly strained since the late-2004 "orange revolution" protests brought pro-Western Viktor Yushchenko to the Ukrainian presidency. Yushchenko has committed to pursuing membership in the European Union and NATO.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in April 2006, in its own words.