KIEV, Aug. 21 – Russia eased its trade restrictions against Ukraine hours after a strong warning from the European Union, which had described the development as “unacceptable.”

Ukrainian politicians accused Russia of waging a trade war in order to derail the country’s plans to sign free trade and political association agreements with the EU in November.

European Commission spokesman, John Clancy, in a statement on Tuesday, said that: "Any economic threat from Russia directed against Ukraine and linked with a possible signature of the association agreement with the EU is unacceptable,” EU Observer reported.

Russia assured Ukraine on Tuesday that it had been easing the restrictions following a six-day scrutiny that had left a backlog of Ukrainian cargo at the borer.

Stefan Fule, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policies, tweeted on Wednesday: “Ukraine, Russia: unacceptable 2make any link between Association Agreement & tightening of customs procedures; happy 2C situation calming down.”

The easing of the restriction also comes following negotiations between the countries’ customs services on Monday that have been ordered by Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and his Russian counterpart Dmitri Medvedev.

The development signals the worst may be over in the trade dispute between Moscow and Kiev that has exploded six days ago when Russia had effectively blocked the imports of Ukrainian goods.

Sergei Glaziev, who advises Russian President Vladimir Putin on trade issues and who is believed to be the mastermind of the blockade, said Sunday Moscow will implement tougher trade sanctions if Ukraine makes “suicidal” move to sign the agreements.

He said the restrictions imposed against Ukrainian exporters last week was a one-shot deal simply to test the new system that could be deployed later.

Moscow has been persistently encouraging Kiev to drop the EU agreements and instead to join the Customs Union, a Russia-led trade bloc that also includes Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Ukrainian opposition parties called on the government to solve the matter via the World Trade Organization, while Azarov had decided to focus on bilateral talks with Moscow instead. (tl/ez)