Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov on Thursday urged Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) members to refrain from erecting new trade barriers within the block.

"In the circumstances of the long-term losses from the global recession, it is wrong and unacceptable to build new barriers within the CIS," Azarov told a cabinet meeting.

Azarov ordered the government to better align Ukrainian trade regulations with those of the CIS to prevent disputes and avoid complications in economic relations with the block's members.

According to official data, Ukraine's trade with the CIS countries reached 31.8 billion U.S. dollars, or 35.5 percent of the nation's total foreign trade, in the first eight months of 2013.

Ukraine, which ratified a free trade deal with the CIS in July 2012, also intends to create a common economic space with the European Union (EU).

Ukraine's plans to sign the free trade pact with the 28-member EU have resulted in the deterioration of relations between Kiev and its eastern partners in recent months.

Russia has said it would impose trade restrictions to protect its market if Ukraine inks the deal with the EU. Endi

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