Poland will resume the transit of Ukrainian grain by strengthening checks

Ukrainian ministers are negotiating with their European colleagues regarding the aggravation of the situation surrounding the import of products from Ukraine and the transit of Ukrainian grain through the territory of Europe. Certain agreements have been reached with Poland and Romania.

The transit of Ukrainian agricultural products, in particular grain, through the territory of Poland will be unblocked on April 21. The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy of Ukraine informed about these results of the negotiations Julia Svyridenko. The checks will ensure that the grain does not end up in Europe, creating competition for local farmers due to its significantly lower cost than in Europe.

Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Solskyi in turn statedthat “Romania does not question the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products to Romanian ports.”

The European Commission criticized the ban on the import of agricultural products from Ukraine, which was unilaterally introduced by several Central European countries.

The European Commission also announced that they will take extraordinary “precautionary measures” regarding the further transit and import of Ukrainian wheat, corn, sunflower seeds and rapeseed, – informs the Reuters agency.

As you know, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia submitted a joint letter to the European Commission due to problems with the export of Ukrainian grain.

As Voice of America reported, Poland announced its intention to ban the import of grain, honey and other food products from Ukraine. With such a decision, the government intended to protect the Polish agricultural sector from cheaper Ukrainian products. In addition, upon notification Reuters agency, the import of honey and certain meat products in addition to grain from Ukraine was also banned by Hungary. Slovakia also introduced restrictions.

“We were forced to close the border because the EU turned a blind eye to the large volumes of grain flowing to Poland, but at the same time we continued negotiations with Ukraine on how to ensure transit, but with the guarantee that the grain would not get stuck in Poland, and we managed to find a solution,” Polish Agriculture Minister Robert Telus was quoted as saying by Reuters.

In response to the demands of the Polish side, Ukrainian exporters promise to comply with the terms of the agreements on grain transit, the Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Yulia Svyridenko, assured.

As Voice of America reported, problems with the transportation of Ukrainian grain to the final destinations in Eastern Europe and Africa are caused by Russia’s actions. More than 50 ships are waiting in the Bosphorus Strait for permission to go to Ukrainian ports to load grain that will feed those who need it, the Voice of America quoted the statement of the US Ambassador to Ukraine Brizhdit Brink.

She accused Russia of trying to “stifle the Ukrainian economy and slow down the flow of food instead of complying with the terms of the agreement.”

The official reminded that in March, within the framework of the “Grain from Ukraine” initiative and with the assistance of USAID, a shipment of wheat was sent to Yemen. The shipment, financed by Spain and France, “will provide the opportunity to feed 4 million people, demonstrating how the Black Sea Grain Initiative enables Ukrainian farmers to feed the world.”

The article uses information from Reuters