Poland and Ukraine are negotiating to close the border between the countries for trade in goods. This was announced by the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk.
Tusk suggests the Polish-Ukrainian border can be closed
He emphasised that this would be a "temporary solution and painful for both sides."
I am ready to make hard decisions when it comes to the border with Ukraine, (but) always in consultation with Kyiv, so that there are no unnecessary tensions. But we must find a long-term solution, Tusk said.
He also announced negotiations with Polish farmers on February 29 about "possible grain subsidies and other measures that will allow selling Polish grain as soon as possible."
According to him, the state can help with procurement so that Polish grain is more attractive in terms of prices than Ukrainian grain.
We are ready for a serious conversation about limits. Those limits [on the export of Ukrainian goods] proposed by Brussels and Kyiv are unacceptable for us. An attempt was made to slightly limit the arrival of agricultural products from Ukraine as the same amount in 2022 and 2023 entered duty-free. Poland will propose in Brussels the base period should not be 2022-2023, but the time before the war, Tusk said.
Why are Polish farmers protesting?
On February 9, Polish farmers began blocking roads in Poland and checkpoints on the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Farmers are blocking traffic in six directions - these are the checkpoints "Yagodyn", "Ustylug", "Ugryniv", "Rava-Ruska", "Shegyni" and "Krakivets".
Farmers are protesting due to the alleged influx of Ukrainian goods and against the EU's Green Agreement, which provides for climate neutrality by 2050.
