Russia's Agricultural Ministry on Wednesday said it had banned all meat imports coming through Ukraine, saying its neighbour had failed to enforce basic veterinary norms.
The "temporary restrictions" come amid a trade war over gas prices, with Russia insisting that Ukraine next year pay around four times as much for gas imports as this year.
"The introduction of the temporary restrictions is in connection to serious violations in the delivery rules of the failure to observe Russian veterinary demands," said a ministry statement.
"The violations during the import of animal produce have assumed a mass character."
Introducing a veterinary ban is a very quick and efficient way of putting pressure on a certain country because it does not require government or parliamentary approval.
Figures for how much meat is imported to Russia through Ukraine were not immediately available.
Russia has already banned fresh fish imports from Norway this month, and banned meat imports from Poland in November -- a step many Polish politicians said was a politically motivated move to punish a regional rival.
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