The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine has reported that since Thursday, March 16, the ministry has been providing explanations on the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine to temporarily halt cargo shipments across the line of demarcation between Ukrainian troops and combined Russian-militant groups in Donbas to foreign partners.

"We have started explaining and bringing our position to our partners: the NSDC decision that was enacted by the president's decree and why we have made it," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mariana Betsa said at a briefing on Friday.

She said that the measures have been taken only to protect the national interests of Ukraine. This step is a temporary measure, until Ukraine restores control over the enterprises and Russia starts observing the Minsk agreements, Betsa said.