KIEV, August 12. /ITAR-TASS/. The Ukrainian Rada has met in plenary session Tuesday to discuss around 20 bills, including a bill on sanctions, which might entail far-reaching consequences for Ukraine itself and its relations with Russia.

The bill envisages measures of immediate response to the existing and potential threats to Ukraine, its national interests and security: for instance, blocking assets, limit trade transactions, fully or partly block transit of resources, ban flights and other transportation services, prevent exodus of capital, suspend or revoke financial liabilities and enforce other prohibitive measures such as establishing control over mass media and Internet communications, banning ships and aircraft from calling at Ukrainian ports and flying in Ukrainian airspace, revoking trade transactions and joint projects in defense and security.

Ukrainian MP Nikolai Tomenko told journalists in the Rada lobbies Tuesday that the bill on sanctions would most likely be passed at first reading and returned to the Rada to be finalized. "We should reduce losses suffered by the Ukrainian economy to a minimum," Tomenko said.

The Rada agenda is also expected to include proposals on amending franchise by cutting the term of an election campaign from 60 to 45 days, which is presumed to be of particular importance because if no parliamentary majority is established by August 25 the Ukrainian president will be entitled to call extraordinary parliamentary election which might be held in mid-October already.