(VOVworld) – The Ukrainian government announced Tuesday that it will ban entry for Russians without an international passport beginning March 1^st and allow only Russians with valid passports to enter Ukraine. The decree was signed by Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk to strengthen border control and ensure Ukraine’s national security. Diplomatic and service passports will remain valid for entrance to Ukraine.

Russian-Ukrainian border (Photo: TASS)

Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of the Duma Committee for the Commonwealth of Independent States and Eurasian integration, said the move will trigger a Russian response but Russia will not apply a similar ban because Russia doesn’t want to isolate Ukraine.