The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kiev finds the plans of five EU countries, including Poland, to extend the ban on grain imports from Ukraine “unacceptable”.
This is in response to the decision by Slovakia, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania and Hungary to support the extension of the ban on grain imports from Ukraine beyond September 15, when EU restrictions expire.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry has described the extension of trade restrictions on grain imports from Ukraine as “categorically unacceptable” when the European Commission’s ban expires.
“The intention to add other categories of Ukrainian products to the list of goods subject to an import ban is also completely incomprehensible. Such unilateral restrictions are inconsistent with the spirit and substance of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and EU principles and standards. internal market,” argue the Kiev authorities.
Ukraine: Brussels must reach an agreement with Poland
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine calls on the European Union and the five countries mentioned to “find a balanced solution based on EU law and the Association Agreement”, highlighting that some of these countries “will increase funding for relevant sectors from the European budget”.
In May, the EU authorized Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary to ban the domestic sale of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seeds, while allowing the transit of these goods for export to other countries. The ban expires on September 15.
Kiev maintains its firm position that the EU should lift unilateral restrictions on Ukrainian exports and believes that Brussels should reach an agreement with Poland. The government of Mateusz Morawiecki believes that it will not lift the ban, even if the European Commission does not agree to extend it.
Rau: We will defend the interests of Polish farmers
Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau asked about the problems with Ukrainian grain in early August he announced in a radio interview that “we will defend our national interests in an accessible, possible and comprehensive manner, including, of course, the interests of individual segments of the Polish economy and Polish society.”
– Of course we will also defend the interests of our farmers. A Polish farmer can count on state support and protection of his position on the EU market, and on the international market in general, the head of the MFA stressed.
The grain deal is no longer in effect. Russia complied with the threats
In July, Russia refused to renew an agreement that allowed the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports. Subsequently, Russian drones and missiles hit several Ukrainian port facilities and grain silos in or near the Black Sea.
Ukraine and Russia are called the “granary of the world” because they supply about a third of the world’s wheat sold. Due to the war in Ukraine, transport through the ports on the Black Sea collapsed and trade came to a virtual standstill.
According to UN data, during the operation of the so-called Nearly 33 million tons of Ukrainian grain was exported to the Black Sea corridor. After the grain deal was not renewed, the Defense Ministry in Moscow announced that it would consider ships entering Ukrainian ports as military targets.
The Center for Eastern Studies estimates that Russia is striving not only to cause further problems in the functioning of the Ukrainian economy, but also to increase the unwillingness to further support this economy in neighboring countries.
Source: Do Rzeczy
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
