KIEV, Feb. 3 -- The Ukrainian cabinet on Tuesday has approved a decree, introducing tighter border-crossing policy for Russian citizens entering Ukraine.

According to the decree, starting from March 1, Russian nationals will be required to carry travel passports to cross into Ukraine, instead of their domestic passports, the government's press service said in a statement.

In addition, the cabinet has instructed the Foreign Ministry to revise the local border traffic regime established for the residents, who live near the frontier area between Ukraine and Russia, in line with latest European standards, the statement said.

The measures to revise the cross-border traffic between the two neighboring states should include introduction of a local border traffic permits, it said.

Currently, international passports or local border traffic cards are not required for travel between Ukraine and Russia. The two ex-Soviet neighbors use their national identity documents during the crossing of joint border.