Ukraine is preparing an appropriate response to the Russian food embargo and higher duties which will take effect on January 1, 2016, Ukrainian Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister Natalia Mykolska has said.

"We are preparing to offer an appropriate response to such measures as may be introduced by Russia on January 1," she told reporters on Thursday after a meeting of the Council of Exporters in Kyiv.

She did not, however, mention any particular countermeasure.

Ukraine will appeal Russia's actions at the World Trade Organization, Mykolska said.

"We cannot allow our companies, which have suffered a lot from the loss of the Russian market, to suffer from Russian imports as well," Mykolska said.