The cancellation of the meeting between the presidents of Poland and Ukraine will increase tensions between the countries

Relations between Ukraine and Poland are becoming more and more tense, and the meeting of the presidents of both countries at the UN, which was supposed to contribute to de-escalation, was canceled.

The President of Poland Andrzej Duda explained that he was unable to meet with V. Zelensky, as the meeting was scheduled for 11:30, and the organizers postponed Duda's speech to that time. The meeting is not currently on the agenda, but it may happen later. We will remind that the meeting of the presidents, where the embargo on Ukrainian grain was supposed to be discussed, was announced by the office of the Polish president.

After the ban on the import of grain from Ukraine was lifted by the European Commission on September 15, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary unilaterally extended supply restrictions. Because of this, on September 19, Ukraine filed lawsuits against these countries at the World Trade Organization and announced a possible ban on the import of Polish agricultural products to Ukraine. Such a policy is not constructive and only increases unnecessary escalation between countries.

During his speech at the UN, Duda compared Ukraine to "a drowning man who grasps at a straw and can drown his savior. Therefore, Poland must protect itself, otherwise it will not be able to help Ukraine."

The authorities of Ukraine have presented to the European Commission an action plan for the control of the export of 4 groups of agricultural products, which will allow control of deliveries to neighboring EU countries in order to avoid distortion of local markets. Also, Ukraine is developing a resolution that will provide for verification and approval by the Ministry of Agriculture of goods to be exported to 5 neighboring EU countries.

Yesterday, the representative of the Polish government, Petro Müller, said that from 2024 support for Ukrainian refugees will end, in particular, the abolition of residence and work permit requirements, free schooling, medical care and family assistance will end.

Elections will be held in Poland in October, so the political struggle between the center-right parties represented by the current president and the European parties represented by Donald Tusk has intensified. The Polish authorities are trying to get the support of farmers, and Ukraine is insisting that Poland implement the decision of the European Commission, which would help Ukrainian farmers in a difficult period.

Queues at the border of Ukraine with Poland for trucks bound for the Baltic countries and Germany reach 12-14 days, as the Polish veterinary service delays inspections, despite the agreement with the EU and Poland on the transfer of phyto- and vet control to the ports of destination of goods.

Limiting the import of Ukrainian goods to Poland should not block their transit, but it seems that certain forces in Poland during the election period are interested in increasing the tension in relations with Ukraine.