Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed the government to formalize the cessation of Ukraine’s trade with Russia, the presidential press service said in a statement Wednesday.

In fact, import and export operations between Ukraine and Russia have been completely terminated since the start of the conflict, the statement said. According to Ukraine’s Fiscal Service, Ukraine saw a 38.7 percent year-on-year growth in trade with Russia in 2021 with a value of 10.09 billion U.S. dollars.

Exports grew by 26.5 percent to 3.44 billion dollars, while imports increased by 45.9 percent to 6.65 billion dollars. -07- Tunisian president announces new voting rules of legislative elections TUNIS, April 6 (Xinhua) -Voting in Tunisia’s legislative elections, scheduled for Dec. 17, will be organized in two rounds, and people will vote for individuals rather than lists as in previous elections, President Kais Saied said Wednesday.

Saied announced the changes in voting during his visit to the eastern coastal province of Monastir, on the occasion of commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the death of the first President of the Republic of Tunisia Habib Bourguiba. The president also hinted at an incoming reshuffle of the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) before assigning it to supervise the next legislative elections.

Regarding the current political crisis, Saied affirmed that a national dialogue has already begun with several organizations and national authorities concerned. Saied announced on March 30 the dissolution of the Assembly of People’s Representatives, or the Tunisian parliament. In December last year, Saied announced that a constitutional referendum will be held in July 2022 and parliamentary elections at the end of 2022. (Xinhua)