After Poland and Hungary banned some Ukrainian imports, Ukraine’s agricultural minister indicated that “a first step” at negotiations in Warsaw on Monday would be to reopen food and grain transit via Poland.
After Russia invaded Ukraine in February, some Black Sea ports were blocked, and substantial amounts of Ukrainian grain, cheaper than EU grain, stayed in Central European countries due to logistical issues.
This hurt local farmers’ prices and sales, placing pressure on governments that had looked to the EU before Warsaw and Budapest made their own decisions over the weekend.
Since Saturday evening, Poland’s grain prohibition included transit. Officials say it prevents grain movement into Poland.
“The first step, in our opinion, should be the opening of transit, because it is quite important and should be done unconditionally and after that we will talk about other things,” Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky said.
“In terms of figures, everything that crossed the Polish border (from Ukraine)… is about 10% of everything (of food goods) Ukraine exported,” he stated in comments shared by the Agriculture Ministry on Telegram.
He stated 6% of Ukraine’s farm exports went to Hungary, and food transit via Hungary and Slovakia was unaffected.
He also announced Wednesday and Thursday talks in Romania and Slovakia.
Polish Agriculture Minister Robert Telus told TVP Info that Ukraine-Poland talks would begin in Warsaw at noon (1000 GMT).
In July, Ukraine, Turkey, Russia, and the UN freed its Black Sea ports, where it exports grain and other agricultural products.
Last week, Moscow warned that unless the West lowers barriers to Russian food and fertilizer exports, the pact may expire on May 18.
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Pawel Jablonski told RMF that discussions with Ukraine might ease tensions with central-eastern European farmers.
“We want to lead to a situation where not even the smallest grain transport, which is to be exported, (is) introduced to the Polish market,” he said.
“The ultimate goal is not that the import ban will be in force indefinitely, but to ensure that grain from Ukraine, which is to be exported, goes (where it is headed).”
The prime ministers of Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia wrote to the European Commission this month that grain, oilseed, egg, poultry, and sugar shipments had increased dramatically.
They suggested Ukrainian agricultural import tariffs. States want a way to get inexpensive grain.
Comment Template