The protests staged by Polish farmers against competition from Ukrainian agricultural imports have escalated across the nation, blocking major highways and all border checkpoints – including rail transports – with Ukraine, attracting fresh participants rallying under other banners.
Among them are local hunters from the Hunters in Action group, who rallied against restrictions on hunting activities in what it called a “destruction of Polish agriculture by delegalizing hunting.”
Adrian Wawrzyniak, a spokesperson for the Solidarity farmers’ union, said all passenger traffic would now be blocked alongside truck traffic, and only military aid would be let through; Ukrainian truckers have blocked the entry of Polish goods on the Ukrainian side in response.
Polish sources have created a live map where dozens of tractor icons – representing the farmers – could be seen scattered across the nation, joined by boar icons that represented the hunters.
Stages with audio equipment could be seen erected by Polish farmers on the highway, with some publicly denouncing support for Ukraine.
“❗This is Poland, not Brussels. I don’t support Ukrainians,” — the situation at the border with Poland.
— Bandera Fella *-^ (@banderafella) February 20, 2024
A typical farmers’ protest. pic.twitter.com/IztGl5sGh1
As a result of the escalation, Radio Free Europe also reported an incident where Ukrainian grains were spilled on railway tracks at the Medyka-Sheghini checkpoint, echoing that of an earlier incident where grains were spilled by protestors on a highway to the anger of many Ukrainians.
The escalation is the culmination of a series of protests that started in November 2023 against Ukrainian competitions.
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Polish truckers and farmers have introduced blockades on Ukrainian truck traffic intermittently in recent months, demanding the return of the permit system and limiting the influx of Ukrainian agricultural products respectively to curb what they called “excessive competition.”
However, the latest escalation has led to a full blockade of all traffic, including passenger traffic and rail connections.
After Russia’s full-scale invasion, the EU has lessened restrictions on Ukrainian exports through the bloc to help Kyiv sustain its economy, and protestors have called on the Polish government and the EU to reintroduce said restrictions but to no avail.
Polish and Ukrainian officials have held multiple meetings in the hope of resolving the issue, but the escalation of the protests has shown that talks have largely failed.
Ukraine has condemned the protests and said there are no justifications for the escalation.
Oleh Nikolenko, a spokesperson of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Facebook, said: “Land borders remain important in the context of Russian aggression. The actions of Polish protesters and individual radical Polish politicians undermine the Ukrainian economy and resistance to repelling Russian aggression.
“The border of Poland and Ukraine is also the border of the EU. It should not be hostage to any political interests,” said Nikolenko.
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Comments (8)
Welcome to the EU. This behaviour led to Britain leaving the European Union. Otherwise known as BREXIT.
Think carefully before you join the EU.
You will pay more into the EU than you recieve in return.
They will set the price at which you may sell your products internationally.
You may not trade with any country that does not have a trade agreement with the entire EU - so you will always be in competition with 27 other member states on prices.
The EU will interfere with your domestic laws and tax policy, you will be obliged to follow their rules on business tax and other things.
You will have to adopt the Euro as your currency, linking your economical fate to its survival which is like lashing yourself to a crashing plane and hoping Brussels will save you.
Ukraine has shown its bravery and courage in this war. The EU want to control your land and produce, please think carefully before you hand supreme sovereign power to the EU. Ukraine will win this war and will be leaders in Europe who have earned their place.
You don't need this phony trade alliance to establish your place.
There was time in history not so long ago when the whole of Western Ukraine was part of the Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania (as was Belarus). This puts the lie to the fact that Moscow has a claim to all these regions. I really hope that Polish farmers and Ukraine farmers can come together in brotherhood to celebrate their former glory together. Put temporary differences aside and help Ukraine win this war.
Interesting ...another poster named John
@John, You truly are shamelessly stupid.
If they love Russia so much then move Russian prisoners to Poland.
These Polish farmers and others creating problems for Ukraine are self centered selfish assholes. The do not seem to understand that if Ukraine does not prevail against Russia then Putin will be coming for them next. While Ukrainians die defending democracy and provide a buffer to Poland from Russia these selfish spoiled assholes see only their own self interests and can't seem to understand the big picture. Can they not contribute modestly to helping Ukraine and thus help themselves and the rest of the free world? How pathetic to be so ignorant and selfish. We have some of the same sort of losers here in the USA. Those that refuse to help Ukraine will find that their shame will not be so easily washed away and in the end they may not have a farm left to farm as Russia takes everything from them and perhaps their life as well.
@Lobo,
Since I also like big picture view I would be interested in your opinion about Ukrainian truck drivers protest, which started also today on Polish-Ukrainian border but for some reason it's not 'the news' here.
Will it help to Ukraine economy and generally Ukrainian situation right now ?
Apart from the fact that there is a huge agriculture protest in EU at the moment and Polish farmers got farmer's support from France, Germany etc. ...sure this is just Polish-Ukraine issue.
I fully support Polish Farmers! They work hard to meet EU Standards of food, whereas ukrainian products without any certifications are flooding EU market. Time to cut the lies - apparently Ukraine is a bread basket of the world, so how come majority of the products end up in EU and not in Africa?
@Patriot, Ignorant BULLSHIT!!
@Lobo, yeah, ignorant BULLSHIT - unless you're Polish farmer that is losing money because of the low quality products from Ukraine that flood the market.
It seems to me that the Poles miss the Russian occupation. Maybe we should indulge them and make everything easier for the Russian Army to enter Poland again? Then maybe they will be sorry for having betrayed Ukraine so shamefully in a time of grave need just because of some money.
People are not simply egoistic, they are absolutely disgusting.