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Ukraine tightens economic blockade on self-proclaimed republics — DPR envoy

There have been no deliveries of food from Ukraine to the self-proclaimed republics in the past three weeks

ROSTOV-ON-DON, February 26. /TASS/. Ukraine does not abide by the Minsk agreements tightening an economic blockade on the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics, Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) official representative in the Contact Group on Ukraine said on Thursday.

"The economic situation is difficult. We are at a crossroads, as we have the set of measures to implement the Minsk agreements," Denis Pushilin said. Meanwhile, Ukraine is tightening economic and energy blockade in defiance of the agreements, he added.

There have been no deliveries of food from Ukraine to the self-proclaimed republics in the past three weeks, Pushilin told a news conference.

He said trade and business ties with Russia could remedy the situation. "We are not interested in contraband. The only legal delivery of foodstuffs at the moment is humanitarian aid from Russia that we receive regularly," he said.

Pushilin said the eastern Ukrainian republics had potentials on mechanic engineering and coal, inviting Russia to buy these products to replace imports lost due to sanctions over Ukraine.

"It is not profitable for Russia to build new plants, as they will pay off in 10 to 15 years," he said.