We consider the signing by the president of the Russian Federation of decree №657 on November 15, 2021 recognizing the so-called " product origin certificate" issued in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions as a gross interference in internal affairs of Ukraine, violation of its legislation and norms of international law.

Recognition of "certificates", unilateral designation of checkpoints to move goods across the temporarily uncontrolled section of the state border of Ukraine and other measures provided by the decree clearly demonstrate Russia's purposeful policy to draw the temporarily occupied territories of our state to its economic, political, electoral and information space.

The signing of the decree contradicts Russia’s commitments under the Minsk agreements and agreements reached within the Normandy format, undermines the efforts of Germany, France and Ukraine to restore the productive work of these important platforms for a peaceful settlement.

We will continue to consolidate international support behind our state in order to force Russia to abandon destructive actions and embark on the path of a political and diplomatic settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict.

Respective note of protest had been sent to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.