Ukraine is set to ban commerce with the Russian-annexed peninsula of Crimea starting next month, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Wednesday.
Ukrainians will not be able to provide goods or services to Crimea - except for personal items, food and humanitarian aid - Yatsenyuk told a meeting of his cabinet, according to a statement on his website. The new policy is to go into effect in 30 days.
He also said his government was preparing to approve a NATO collaboration plan for next year, in an effort to lay the groundwork for joining the Western military alliance.
Last year, Russia occupied and then annexed Ukraine's Crimea region soon after Ukraine ousted its pro-Russian president during mass protests calling for closer ties with the West.
Shortly thereafter, a pro-Russian separatist rebellion broke out in Ukraine's two eastern-most regions. More than 8,000 people have died in the conflict, according to estimates by the United Nations.
Last month, Russia said it would ban food imports from neighboring Ukraine starting next year because Ukraine decided to follow through with a free-trade deal with the European Union.
