Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Wednesday the government was mulling a "temporary" closure of the border with Ukraine for goods, amid tensions over low-priced Ukrainian grain.
"We are talking with the Ukrainian side about a temporary closure of the border, the cessation in general of trade," Tusk told reporters.
"I will also discuss this with Polish farmers tomorrow. This solution would only be temporary ... and mutually painful," he added.
Polish farmers have been blocking border crossings with Ukraine and other highways to protest at what they say is unfair competition from goods entering the Polish market from their war-torn neighbor.
"I am prepared to take even a firm decision when it comes to the border with Ukraine, always in consultation with Kyiv, so that there won't be any unnecessary tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv," Tusk said.
"But we have to find a long-term solution."
Russia has blocked crucial Black Sea trade routes used by Ukraine to export its farm produce.
In a bid to help Kyiv economically after the Russian invasion, the European Union decided in 2022 to drop tariffs on Ukrainian goods transiting the 27-nation bloc by road.
But logistical problems mean much of Ukraine's cereal exports has accumulated in EU-member Poland, undercutting local producers.
Poland's ties with Ukraine have become increasingly strained over the border blockades and the grain dispute, with at least four incidents of Polish farmers spilling Ukrainian grain from lorries and freight trains.
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On Sunday, eight train carriages carrying Ukrainian corn were prised open and tons of grain spilled onto rail tracks.
Kyiv urged Warsaw to put an end to "impunity" over the "acts of vandalism."
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Comments (3)
A) What security is Poland going to provide for the Ukrainian grain cargoes which are stranded because of the Polish farmers' blockade?
B) What steps is Poland going to take to prevent any transport of Russian goods into Poland?
C) What exactly did the Polish police or other government agencies do to the Ukrainska Pravda journalists who were documenting Russian goods being imported into Poland? What did they do to the footage already gathered?
I think Ukraine, its farmers and its journalists deserve clear answers to each of these three questions.
@Michael,
A. Poland anonced 7 day ago that Polish-Ukainian border would be added to restricted zone scheme. It was 1 day before Ukraine representstive showed up on the border knowing Polish one couldn't come since Ursula van den Leyen visit same day in Warsaw.
B. Polish import from ruzzia in both 2022 and 2023 = 0.018 million tons while from Ukraine = 3 million just in 2022. And sometime is better to expire contract than cancel it. Simillar to profit Ukraina gain for transit ruzzian gas via their pipelies, as we speak.
C. When one films sensitive area in restricted zone (see my A answer) without any permits, one must be prepared to get trouble.
Polish-Belarutian border has been restricted and militarize zone for last 3 years and I'm sure Ukraine's journalists knew about it.
I hope these info somehow will help Ukraine, its farmers and ... its journalists.
PS
I'm aware of misspelled I made but unfortunately there is no edit option available. Still - I hope it easy to read.
@Michael,
B.
Source: https://onlytruthaboutrussia.quora.com/School-Math-Mistake-Propaganda-or-Russian-Sabotage-Fuels-Anti-Polish-Paranoia-Across-Ukraine
Looks like troll "Jack" has borrowed my account name to try to falsely gain some street creds again.
However, I tend to agree with him on this issue anyways so no big deal. Anyone who commits a crime including a polish farmer destroying another nation's resources......just like putirump in the USA, must be held to account by the judicial system.
Ukraine makes a fair request. The victim must be compensated for the losses created by the law violator.
Poland also must to do better in ferreting out those in its nation which undermine laws at putin's bidding.
Those bast4rd Putin loving Farmers really annoy me. Dont they know Ukraine is fighting a war? What the hell is their mental malfunction? They wish to argue about grain while Ukraine loses people each day. They have no heart. They should all be arrested!
@John, So why EU doesn't lower standards for Polish imports the way it does for Ukraine?? unlock the funds now!