Ukraine-Poland border blockade can still be avoided - Minister for EU integration

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)

Polish farmers have announced that they will block all border checkpoints with Ukraine on February 20, but there is still time to resolve the situation, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna told RBC-Ukraine.

Commenting on the situation with spilled Ukrainian grain at the Polish-Ukrainian border, Stefanishyna says that the terms of trade between the countries are determined and have been determined only at the level of the European Union, respecting the rules.

According to her, all parties must adhere to these rules.

“The Association Agreement provides the full arsenal of tools that can be used to address these issues,” she added.

Stefanishyna says that the Ukrainian side is ready to support direct dialogue with Polish partners to resolve the issue.

She also informs that meetings with the leadership of Poland have already taken place at the highest level.

“We understand clearly that there is little economic rationale behind these protests. The European Commission has confirmed that there is no threat to the market, and the new decision to extend trade preferences for Ukraine contains clear safeguards against exceeding import volumes that could threaten the EU internal market and individual member states,” the minister explained.

Stefanishyna adds that Ukraine has made the most significant step in unlocking this issue.

“We have unlocked the Black Sea. So, under these circumstances, this rhetoric is very saddening, not to mention the emotional aspect that grain holds the same sacred significance for Ukrainians as matzo does for Jews,” she explained.

Recently, Polish farmers announced that they would block all border checkpoints with Ukraine on February 20, but according to Stefanishyna, it is still possible to prevent.

“The border blockade can be avoided, there is still time until February 20 to take action,” she noted.

Border blockade between Ukraine and Poland

On November 6 of last year, Polish carriers began strikes at the border with Ukraine. Polish protesters demanded the return of the pass system for Ukrainian carriers.

In January, the Polish government signed an agreement with carriers to unblock the border with Ukraine. Under the agreement, the parties agreed to suspend protests at the approaches to three border checkpoints until March 1.

However, on Tuesday, February 13, Polish farmers announced that they would block all border checkpoints with Ukraine, including approaches to railway stations and seaports.