OREANDA-NEWS. The Government of Ukraine approves two resolutions of countermeasures against the illegal actions of the Russian Federation, which caused substantial damage to the Ukrainian economy and Ukrainian entrepreneurs: "We will act the same way every time. Each Russian action will get an operational response," stated Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk at a government meeting on Wednesday, 30 December.

The relevant acts on counteractions of the Ukrainian side aimed at protecting Ukrainian producers and the Ukrainian market "will be released on the first day after the actual actions of the Russian side concerning restrictive measures for Ukrainian goods."

Arseniy Yatsenyuk reminded that the Ukraine's President signed a law amending the law on foreign economic activity that enables the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to take countermeasures "against any country that is recognized an aggressor country by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, or causes harm to the Ukrainian economy and Ukrainian state."

"Russia has committed not only an act of military aggression against Ukraine. The illegal annexation of Crimea, military intervention and military aggression in Donetsk and Luhansk is only one part of Russia's plan aimed at destroying the Ukrainian state. But we stopped the military aggression of Russia, and now we are stopping the economic-financial and diplomatic aggression of the Russian Federation," underlined Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

The Head of Government noted the positive results in a significant reduction of dependence Ukrainian manufacturers from the Russian market: "It is about a threefold reduction of dependence. If three years ago exports to Russia amounted about 35%, today it makes up 12.5%."

However, he stressed that the Russian regime "continues the consistent pressure on the Ukrainian economy and Ukrainian producers": "Russia consistently, on daily basis, is taking steps aimed at limiting Ukrainian exports to the Russian Federation, which extremely damages the Ukrainian economy and the main thing – this violates multilateral and bilateral agreements between Ukraine and the Russian Federation."

The Ukrainian Government, according to Arseniy Yatsenyuk, has already taken a series of measures, including filing the claim in the World Trade Organization: "But the Russian President signed a decree on the introduction of measures against the Ukrainian economy. Moreover, the Russian Duma and other bodies that actually perform only the function of coordinating actions taken by the Russian President, starting next year suspend the free trade zone between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, and also introduce a number of additional restrictive measures against Ukrainian goods".

Today, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopts two resolutions stipulating counteractions against the illegal actions of the Russian Federation. The Government passes an order banning the import of goods produced in the Russian Federation into the customs territory of Ukraine.

In addition, the Government approves a decision on the rates of the customs import duty concerning the goods from the Russian Federation.

"To each action of Russia Ukraine will respond taking counteractions and countermeasures," said Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

The Prime Minister also reminded that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine had adopted a decision to impose a moratorium on the payment of US $ 3 billion of debt, "the sum which wasn’t taken by us, which was nothing else but a bribe of the Kremlin to former Ukrainian President for non-signing the agreement on free trade area".

"The Ukrainian Government has imposed such a moratorium on the payment of US $3 billion. First, this is due to the fact that Russia refused to restructure the debt, like all other Ukrainian creditors did", he stressed.

"There won’t be different conditions for the Kremlin than the conditions offered for other bondholders. A moratorium has been imposed until Russia will either accept the offer or a relevant decision will be issued by court. We are in full gear, ready for battle in court with the Russian Federation", said Arseniy Yatsenyuk.