Polish strikers continued and strengthened the blockade of the border with Ukraine

Yesterday, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine reported that Polish farmers blocking the border with Ukraine, without any explanation, started to detain passenger buses going to and from Ukraine.

Thus, the hostages of the protest have now become bus passengers, who are usually women with children, pensioners, people with disabilities, military personnel returning from or going to training exercises.

Ukraine called on the Polish authorities to intervene in a situation that is unacceptable for the civilized world. However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Poland claims that the protesters do not obstruct the movement of buses and do not detain them. The consul of Ukraine went to the Dorogusk checkpoint to understand the situation.

In addition, in a statement published by the Municipal Administration of Lyubich-Royal Commune, it is reported that the blockade of the border with Ukraine, which was supposed to end on March 10, will be extended for another 2 months until April 30. Thus, the Poles are insisting on the introduction of restrictions on the import of agricultural products of non-European origin into Poland, including Ukrainian ones, as well as canceling the EU's "Green" strategy for reducing harmful emissions.

Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine - trade representative T. Kachka said that blocking the border with Ukraine by Polish farmers violates the norms and rights of the European Union and the World Trade Organization (WTO). According to him, the European Commission has warned about the impossibility of meeting the demands of Polish farmers, and has sent relevant letters to the governments of Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. If the situation does not improve, the EC is ready to consider an infringement procedure against these countries. In addition, Ukraine filed a corresponding lawsuit at the WTO.

"Demands for permanent subsidies for Polish farmers will eventually lead to the fact that their grain, which is actually exported a lot, will become oversubsidized, and the WTO will receive a wave of indignation that already subsidized farmers from Poland will receive additional subsidies, which the EU will not be able to to agree," T. Kachka explained.