Rash and politicized actions and organization of the energy blockade will primarily affect ordinary Ukrainian citizens, stressed Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman during a meeting dedicated to considering problem issues hampering activity of enterprises of steel and power industry through the blocking of freight traffic with temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

"As a result of the blockade, which has been created, there may be disrupted operation of Ukrainian enterprises, heat providers. This means that such reckless, politicized actions will hit ordinary Ukrainians,” said the Prime Minister. “Makeshift blockade of transportation of steam coal and necessary components for the steel industry will afflict ordinary Ukrainians: in some cities of the country heat supplies can be cut off. All these jeopardize energy security. Another problem is the economy."

Notably, the energy blockade will entail undermining of the national currency, slowing down economic growth, reduction of budget revenues, failure in implementation of social programs and job cuts, said Volodymyr Groysman.

The Prime Minister noted that coal is extracted from mines on Ukrainian territory and purchased from companies that are registered in Ukraine and pay taxes to the Ukrainian budget.

He aired his conviction that the so-called blockade undermined the life of entire Ukraine.

"I have zero tolerance for smuggling, for bloody trade. But I stand for Ukraine and Ukrainians, and for the national economy, and for light and heating in Ukrainian homes, for none banned us from taking back our Ukrainian mines and use them for the benefit of Ukrainian citizens," he stressed.

The Prime Minister assured that the Government would spare no effort to mitigate any negative consequences as a result of energy and economy blockade and to prevent aggravation of the situation.

"The challenge for us is to minimize any negative impact on the lives of Ukrainian citizens. We'll cope with it," promised the Head of Government.

The meeting, in particular, gathered together First Vice Prime Minister/ Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv, Deputy Prime Minister/ Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities of Ukraine Hennadii Zubko, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Kistion, Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Ihor Nasalyk, Minister of the Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine Vadym Chernysh, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov, Chairman of Donetsk regional state administration Pavlo Zhebrivsky, MPs of Ukraine, CEOs of power and steel companies.