The heads of government of Poland and Ukraine affirmed on Thursday that they had taken “a step forward” towards resolving the agricultural dispute between their countries, following a highly anticipated meeting on Thursday in Warsaw.
“We are looking for good solutions for both parties in the field of agriculture, we have taken a step forward,” welcomed Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a joint press conference.
“We are looking for solutions that may not satisfy all parties, but which will protect the fundamental interests of Polish farmers and producers on the one hand, and Ukrainian farmers on the other,” he added.
Since February, Polish farmers have been blocking border crossings with Ukraine to protest against competition deemed “unfair” from foodstuffs flowing from the country at war, exempted from customs duties by the EU since 2022. Warsaw is calling for a cap on cereals Ukrainians, after having applied a unilateral embargo to them in 2023, defying Brussels.
VIDEO – Poland: 160 tonnes of grain from Ukraine dumped on railway tracks
“Positive dynamics”
“Today I can say that we have definitely made progress in lifting the blockade. Our plan is being implemented. Not as quickly as we would like, but we are seeing positive trends and dynamics,” assured the head of the Ukrainian government, Denys Chmygal, quoted on the official website of his government. He noted that “Ukraine has accepted the restrictions proposed by the European Commission on agricultural exports.”
Noting “that today, Ukrainian cereals do not enter the Polish market”, the Ukrainian Prime Minister indicated that a system of verifications and export licenses was put in place on the Ukrainian side for four cereals: corn, rapeseed, sunflower and wheat. “So this is the first element of our cooperation. And this is the first step on our part,” he stressed.
According to him, kyiv also asked the European Commission to carry out an urgent review of Ukrainian legislation in the agricultural and transport sectors. A first review of the legislative framework for agriculture “should be carried out at the end of April”, he said. At the same time, he stressed the importance of the ban on Russian and Belarusian agricultural exports to the EU.
Progress on road transport
In his statement to the press, the head of the Polish government also reported progress in resolving the dispute over road transport which has plagued relations between the two countries for months.
“We are currently on the right track to ensure that competition from Ukrainian carriers is not as acute and painful as it has been so far for Polish carriers,” Donald Tusk said.
Accusing their Ukrainian colleagues of unfair competition and lowering market prices, Polish truckers blocked border crossings between the two countries for months.
Joint declaration of cooperation
Assisted by several ministers, the two Prime Ministers also addressed the issue of arms deliveries to Ukraine, the reconstruction of Ukraine and its European integration. Donald Tusk and Denys Chmygal signed a joint declaration of cooperation. In particular, they spoke to the press about “the creation of joint defense enterprises on the territory of Ukraine and Poland”.
Warsaw declared its readiness, in particular, to cooperate in the production and modernization of helicopters, the production of 125 mm caliber ammunition for armored forces, anti-aircraft systems, radiolocation, as well as in the maintenance of tanks.
Poland has been among Ukraine’s biggest supporters since the launch of the Russian offensive in February 2022, but their relations have been poisoned in recent months by commercial disputes.