Poland's agriculture minister calls on protesting at Ukrainian border farmers to negotiate

Warsaw, Poland (Svidomi) — Polish Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski has called on farmers protesting on the border with Ukraine to negotiate, Polsat News reports.

"Regulation of trade in agricultural products with Ukraine is one of the priorities of the Ministry of Agriculture," the minister said.

The day before, he sent a letter to Polish protesters.

"The national ban on imports to Poland of cereals, rapeseed and sunflower seeds, as well as some processed products - wheat flour, meal, bran and cake - remains in force," Sekierski added.

The Polish agriculture ministry wants to develop a bilateral agreement that will protect the market for other sensitive products, such as sugar, poultry, eggs, honey, and more.

The letter also revealed that in 2022, Poland recorded a trade surplus with Ukraine.

"However, in the case of trade in agri-food products, the value of exports from Poland to Ukraine in 2023 was €1.033 billion, and the value of imports from Ukraine was €1.69 billion, which means there is a deficit of €656 million," the minister said.

He also warned that a complete closure of the border could stop Polish exports to Ukraine and lead to job losses.

On February 16, Polish farmers blocked the last truck-accessible checkpoint, Krakowiec-Korczowa, on the border with Ukraine.

On February 19, Ukrainian volunteer Nazar Smyk reported that trucks carrying military equipment had been delayed at the Polish border for three days. They crossed the border only on February 20, according to a RFE/RL Ukrainian service correspondent.