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fullscreenPolish farmers in protest against the EU’s agricultural policy and the import of Ukrainian grain. Archive image. Photo: Czarek Sokolowski/AP/TT
Poland is considering temporarily closing the border with Ukraine to freight traffic, following widespread protests by farmers demonstrating against, among other things, cheap grain imports from Ukraine.
– We are talking to the Ukrainian side about a temporary border closure, with a general stop to trade, says Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
He will also discuss the possible solution, which he calls “painful for both parties”, with the disgruntled farmers on Wednesday. Any decision will be taken in consultation with Ukraine, says Tusk.
The trade, which the farmers describe as unfair competition, has arisen with Russia blocking the trade route in the Black Sea that Ukraine previously used for grain exports.
In order to help Ukraine financially, the EU decided in 2022 to lower tariffs for Ukrainian goods transported by land. But it has led to a large part of Ukraine’s grain exports being accumulated in Poland – which is seen as hitting against local producers.