Policy Agenda: Ukrainian and Security Council

policy agenda: The move represents a dramatic U-turn by Poroshenko, who had previously tried to end a transport blockade on the rebel east imposed by nationalist groups, according to The Japan Times. It shows the government's vulnerability to radical forces, which have increasingly shaped the nation's policy agenda. It will be in place until the occupiers return stolen Ukrainian industry to Ukrainian jurisdiction, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told the country's national security council in Kiev. Many economic links have been preserved between separatist-controlled areas that are dominated by heavy industry, particularly coal mining and metallurgy, and government-held Ukraine despite a three-year conflict. All rail and road connections with the rebel-controlled mini-states will be cut from Wednesday, National Security and Defense Council head Oleksander Turchynov told reporters, the Tass news agency reported. But the new measures appeared to amount to a full-blown trade ban. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.