Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has said he doubts the appropriateness of a trade dispute with Australia regarding cigarette packaging, which Kyiv has been involved in at the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 2012, and has instructed the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade to deal with the matter.

"I doubt the appropriateness of this trade dispute with Australia, which was initiated in 2012," he said, while opening a Cabinet meeting.

Yatseniuk said that Ukraine joined this dispute allegedly at the request of the American Chamber of Commerce.

He said the dispute began after Australia demanded that cigarettes be produced in unbranded packs which reinforced anti-smoking advertising.

Yasnteiuk said that the government had recently tasked Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Trade Representative of Ukraine Natalia Mykolska to address this issue.

As reported, Ukraine in March 2012 was first to turn to the WTO asking it to hold consultations with Australia regarding the country's decision to ban brands on cigarettes packs. The consultations were held in April of the same year and, according to Kyiv, could not resolve the conflict, therefore a platform became necessary to consider Ukraine's lawsuit against Australia.