KIEV, May 18 – Ukraine should as soon as possible settle the issue of trade in unprocessed timber, as the ban on its exports hinders the provision of the second and third tranche of macro-financial assistance in the amount of EUR 1.2 billion by the European Union, Ukrainian Trade Representative Natalia Mykolska said.

"The removal of this important impediment to trade is one of the necessary criteria for continuation of the implementation of the third EU macro-financial assistance programme in Ukraine. The second and third tranches total EUR 1.2 billion and foresee further liberalization of trade with the EU," Mykolska said at a Tuesday meeting devoted to the problems of unprocessed timber.