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Yatsenyuk: Ukraine to lose about 7 bln dollars in the first year of anti-Russian sanctions

KIEV, August 08, /ITAR-TASS/. Ukraine is going to lose about 7 billion dollars in the first year of sanctions against Russia, according to parliament-appointed Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. “According to the most negative scenario, Ukraine may lose 7 billion dollars in the first year,” Yatsenyuk told journalists on Friday.

The Ukrainian government suggests imposing sanctions against 172 people, including Russians and citizens of other countries, as well as 65 companies predominantly Russian, Yatsenyuk told a briefing at which he announced a package of anti-Russian measures.

“The 172 individuals include the citizens of Russia and other countries while the 65 legal entities subject to sanctions are predominantly Russian,” Yatsenyuk stressed.

Earlier on Friday, Yatsenyuk said Ukraine had the right to impose 26 types of sanctions against Russia, including a freeze of assets; bans on activities and privatization of state property and the use of licenses as well as on partial transit of resources.

Yatsenyuk said the government suggested imposing sanctions against any transits via Ukrainian territory, including air flights or gas transit. The latter, he believes, will end the country’s dependency on Russian gas.

He also pledged to launch a global search for the property of people who stood behind “the annexation of Crimea”.

Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council is expected to approve the sanctions list submitted by the cabinet of ministers soon.

Yatsenyuk also threatened Russia with new sanctions against its military and defence sector. “A month ago, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council made a decision to ban military-technological cooperation with Russia. Decisions on additional sanctions will be passed to deprive Russia of an ability to modernize its armed forces,” Yatsenyuk stressed.

Yatsenyuk admitted that was the best option he could think of even though Ukraine would certainly suffer losses from the anti-Russian sanctions.