The ongoing trade war happening between Russia and the Ukraine has just taken things on a more serious level. On Saturday, the Ukrainian government has just announced that they were implementing a ban on a number of food imports from Russia. Among the food items included on the ban are meat, vegetables, fish, fruit, dairy and alcohol. The ban, which officially starts on January 10, follows after a similar Russian ban has been implemented on New Year's Day.
Prior to the embargo on Ukranian products, a free-trade agreement was approved by Ukraine with the European Union. Russia's decision on the embargo of Ukrainian products was a way for them to protect its domestic markets. With the EU-Ukraine deal signed, this would allow European products to enter Russian borders without paying import duty.
At the same time, the embargo has been described by Russian officials as a reprisal for Ukraine's decision, since doing so would punish Russia for it's the annexation of Crimea and thus support eastern Ukraine's separatist war effort. A similar retaliatory embargo has also been imposed by Russia on Western food products. This ban closes its Russian markets to meat, fish, cheese, almost all fruits and vegetables coming from the EU, Australia, Norway, and North America.
Back in November 2013, Ukraine was set to sign an association agreement with the EU. But due to pressure from Russia, the then president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, backed out. This led to massive street protest in Kiev, which led to the spark of the revolution that ousted the president a few months later. In September, the parliament approved the association agreement. Russia's response to the revolution as a western-sponsored coup was to annex Crimea. It then led a separatist army in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk signed the decree prohibiting the import of Russian products. According to the decree, the ban will last until August 5th or until the ban has been cancelled.
