Ukraine will increase quotas on coke imports to 300,000 tons from the current 210,000 tonnes by the end of the year, whereas quotas on coking coal supplies will be increased by one million tons, the press service of First Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov reported on Thursday.

A respective resolution was passed at a government meeting on Wednesday.

"Thus, Ukraine will fulfill the requirements of the European Union and the World Trade Organization to lift trade restrictions on these commodities," the press service quoted Arbuzov as saying.

Arbuzov said that the problem of imported coke had been one of the so-called "trade irritants" in relations between Ukraine and the EU and, in particular, had been raised during his recent meeting with EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht in Brussels.

"Another obligation of Ukraine has been fulfilled, and another step has been taken to ensure the success of the Vilnius summit," he said, while commenting on the decision.

He said that restrictions on the supply of coking coal had been introduced due to its surplus at a number of enterprises, which could lead to emergency situations.

"The return and gradual restoration of import quotas is one of the expectations of the European Union ahead of the signing of the Association Agreement. Moreover, the use of imported coke will increase the efficiency of blast furnaces and will help achieve better quality of production," Arbuzov said.

Earlier, the introduction by Ukraine of restrictions on the supply of coke and coking coal was considered at a special WTO meeting on market restrictions.