Russian Federation to ban imports of all Ukrainian food products in 2016
The 20-minute talks focused on the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
A few analysts have also been skeptical about the scale of Russia’s concessions. But there have been signs of a diplomatic thaw in the wake of the deadly Islamist attacks in Paris.
Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas told parliament on November 17 that “there can not be bargaining over compliance of the [cease-fire] conditions”. “Cooperation elsewhere does not mean for Europe concessions in its neighborhood”.
He said: “We are ready not to receive any money this year”.
A man puts flowers near the French embassy to commemorate victims of attacks in Paris in Kyiv Ukraine Nov. 14 2015. Reuters Valentyn Ogirenko
The two military chiefs “exchanged their evaluations of the current situation in the country” following calls to unite efforts against IS group by presidents Vladimir Putin and Francois Hollande.
Russian Federation proposed letting Ukraine pay back $1 billion annually from 2016 to 2018 and asked for guarantees from the US, the European Union or a large bank, according to Siluanov.
Moscow and Kyiv have been at loggerheads over the issue since then, in the context of a wider deterioration in relations caused by Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.
While meeting Tuesday with the foreign ministers of Lithuania and Sweden, Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko offered condolences to the French people.
EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem last week said the free-trade zone, once implemented, would “send a powerful signal that the regulatory environment in Ukraine is modern and efficient”, the BBC reports, noting that attempts at economic reform have been stymied by pervasive corruption and cronyism.
A few of Russia’s neighbors worry that European resolve to maintain pressure on the Kremlin over Ukraine could waver, leading to the easing of sanctions when they expire in January.