National Security and Defense Council imposes sanctions against Poroshenko

The Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) has imposed sanctions against former President Petro Poroshenko, sources told Forbes Ukraine, one of whom was present at the NSDC meeting where the decision was made.

The publication’s source suggests that we may be talking about the “article ‘high treason’.”

RBC Ukraine sources in Poroshenko's circle confirmed that sanctions were imposed, in particular, against him. According to the publication's sources in power , the list may also include "representatives of big business, who were previously called oligarchs."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that he held a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council and promised that the decision would be published tomorrow, February 13. "We are defending our state and restoring justice: everyone who destroyed Ukraine's national security and helped Russia must be held accountable. The billions that were earned by essentially selling out Ukraine, Ukrainian interests, and Ukrainian security must be blocked and must work to protect Ukraine and Ukrainians. And this will happen. It is a must," the Ukrainian president's office reported his words on its Telegram channel.

Poroshenko has repeatedly criticized the policies of the current Ukrainian authorities. In April 2024 , he announced his intention to run in the next presidential elections. They were supposed to take place in the spring of 2024, but did not take place due to martial law imposed in the country.

The fact that Kiev is discussing the issue of introducing sanctions against Poroshenko, but not everyone in Zelensky's circle supports this step, was reported in mid-January by the publication "Strana". A source of the newspaper, close to the office of the Ukrainian president, said that this could become a "permanent point of tension" in the already tense relations between Ukraine and the EU , and Poroshenko could declare political persecution.

Adviser to the Ukrainian President's Office Serhiy Leshchenko previously claimed that the investigation of cases against Poroshenko was being held back by outgoing US President Joe Biden , and that Donald Trump, who replaced him, "couldn't care less."

In December 2021, a criminal case was opened against Poroshenko in Ukraine on suspicion of treason due to the supply of coal from Donbass to the rest of the country in 2014-2015. The case involved former MP from the liquidated Opposition Platform - For Life party Viktor Medvedchuk.

On January 6, 2022, the court seized the property of the ex-president. On January 17, he returned to Ukraine a month after leaving. Two days later, the court decided to leave him free on personal recognizance - this is the lightest possible measure of restraint, he is obliged to appear in court at the first request. In February 2024, the State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine completed the preliminary investigation of the case.

Russia imposed sanctions against Poroshenko in September 2020.

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