Poland’s actions regarding Ukrainian grain are wrong, unlawful and harmful for Polish, Ukrainian and all farmers in the European Union, said Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Representative of Ukraine.
“Finally, Poland has told the truth about Ukrainian grain. It is not about this season, but about the conditions of Ukraine’s accession to the EU. This was very clearly stated by Minister of Agrarian Policy Telus,” he commented on Facebook about Poland’s unilateral extension of the embargo on Ukrainian agricultural exports.
The Ukrainian trade representative noted that in this way, “in fact, introductory negotiations on agriculture have begun” with “such aggressive combat intelligence and complete antagonism on the part of Poland.”
“In fact, Poland is fighting for a liberum veto in Ukraine without any explanation,” he wrote, and emphasized that Ukraine will stand by the fact that Poland’s actions regarding Ukrainian grain are wrong, unlawful and harmful to Polish, Ukrainian and all EU farmers.
A number of public figures joined the discussion of Poland’s political action under the auspices of the Ukrainian Trade Representative. In particular, Lukasz Adamski, vice director of the Meroszewski Center, pointed out that Ukraine’s unwillingness to integrate into the European Union is due to “a mental factor – the inability of Ukrainian officials to draw conclusions from the policy mechanisms that outline the policies of the EU and its states.”
He pointed out to the deputy minister that the emotional rhetoric is “objectively counterproductive” for Ukraine and creates the image of a state that “although in a very difficult situation, is not a member of the EU, but is only trying to enter (it – IF-U), and is already challenging its closest and most trusted ally in waging a war (trade – IF-U) and (…) blocking transit.”
“The simple emotional imposition of one’s position without the possibility of a normal conversation is the problem created by the agrarian bloc of the Polish government. With all due respect, I want a normal conversation. What is being proposed is to agree to agrarian subjugation because you need it. This is nonsense in any context,” Kachka countered.
Volodymyr Lapa, former head of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, noted that the thesis that Ukrainian officials are unable to comprehend the mechanisms of EU policy when the EU is on Ukraine’s side in this matter seems “somewhat strange.”
“Rather, it is about Poland’s inability to adhere to the principles of the EU’s common policy if it contradicts the current political interests of local elites,” he stated.
Mykola Gorbachev, President of the Ukrainian Grain Association, thanked the Ukrainian Trade Representative for his position and cooperation and expressed confidence that after Ukraine wins, which Poland is helping, the issue will be resolved, as “open Ukrainian ports can solve the problem.”
