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Ukraine's campaign opens as Moscow widens sanctions
Summary
A look back at the political and trade context in Ukraine on 2 January 2019, at the start of a presidential campaign.
What was the political backdrop in Ukraine on 2 January 2019? Two developments from the closing days of 2018 framed it: the start of a presidential election campaign and a widening of Russian sanctions.
On 31 December 2018, the presidential pre-election campaign began in Ukraine. By 2 January 2019, the country was therefore already in an electoral period, with the contest for the presidency under way.
Two days before, on 29 December 2018, the Russian government had expanded its sanctions against Ukraine. The measures banned imports into Russia of industrial goods, agricultural products and foodstuffs from Ukraine, according to an approved list.
Why the two events sit together
The timing placed an external economic measure alongside the opening of a domestic political contest. The sanctions targeted a range of goods, from manufactured products to food and farm produce, and were set by a defined list rather than as a blanket measure.
Both developments were in place as the new year began: a campaign that had formally started and a trade restriction that had just been widened.
