unsaveSave
expand-left
full screen Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Sjmyhal after a meeting in Warsaw. Photo: Czarek Sokolowski/AP/TT
In late February, Poland considered temporarily closing its border with Ukraine. Now the two countries are close to a solution to the grain dispute, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
– As far as agriculture is concerned, we have come a step closer, Tusk says after a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Sjmyhal in the Polish capital, Warsaw.
The conflict between the countries is about grain imports and border blockades carried out by Polish farmers. Reduced tariffs on Ukrainian goods following Russia’s full-scale invasion have led to a large portion of Ukrainian grain exports accumulating in Poland.
It strikes against local producers, according to Poland and above all its farmers.
Although an agreement has not yet been reached, the two countries are now close to a solution, according to Tusk.
– We are looking for solutions and we are close to them. This applies to the amount of products that can flow to Poland, he says.
Ukraine has repeatedly called on Poland to ease traffic congestion and warned that delays caused by the farmers’ blockades could hinder arms deliveries to the country.
“We expect that today’s discussion will yield results and that we will find ways to solve problematic issues,” writes Sjmyhal on social media after the meeting.