Ukraine seeks reopening of food transit via Poland at talks

Kyiv will aim to secure the re-opening of food and grain transit via Poland as a “first step” at talks in Warsaw on Monday, April 17, Ukraine’s agriculture minister said, after Poland and Hungary announced bans on some imports from Ukraine.

Some Black Sea ports were blocked after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year and large quantities of Ukrainian grain – which is cheaper than that produced in the European Union – ended up staying in Central European countries because of logistical bottlenecks. This hit prices and sales for local farmers.

“The first step, in our opinion, should be the opening of transit, because it is quite important and it is the thing that should be done unconditionally and after that we will talk about other things,” Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky said.

“In terms of figures, everything that crossed the Polish border [from Ukraine]… is about 10 percent of everything [of food goods] Ukraine exported,” he said in comments published on the Telegram messaging app by the Agriculture Ministry. He also added that deliveries to Hungary accounted for around 6 percent of Ukraine’s farm exports.

He also said there would be additional talks this week in Romania on Wednesday, and in Slovakia on Thursday.

Poland’s embargo, in effect since Saturday night, wants to make sure that Ukrainian grain not destined for Poland does not stay in the country.

“The ultimate goal is not that the import ban will be in force indefinitely, but to ensure that grain from Ukraine, which is to be exported, goes [where it is headed],” Polish deputy foreign minister Pawel Jablonski told radio station RMF.

Source: Terra

To read the original news report, check: https://www.terra.com.br/noticias/mundo/ucrania-busca-reabrir-transporte-de-graos-via-polonia-em-meio-a-proibicoes-de-importacao,6f118ddfc81757229d399ccaa957ed6fms33qjdm.html

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