Poles are fighting phantoms and blaming Ukraine for nothing: the head of the Ministry of Agriculture explained what is happening with the border blockade

Polish farmers are threatening to block all checkpoints on the border with Ukraine starting February 20. According to the threats, not only border crossings will be blocked, but also transportation hubs and entrances to transshipment railroad stations and seaports. This is how farmers want to allegedly ensure the country's food security. In Ukraine, however, they are sympathetic to the position of the Poles, but note that they greatly exaggerate the role of our country in their problems.

Moreover, said Mykola Solsky, Minister of Agrarian Policy, during the telethon, farmers have been protesting across Europe in recent months. Although each country has its own reasons for doing so, they are united by the demand to reduce the gradually increasing environmental requirements for production.

Solsky explained that European farmers are unhappy that they have to follow certain rules in their work that do not affect the products of suppliers from other countries, such as Canada, Brazil, Ukraine, and New Zealand. This, among other things, makes their products more competitive in local markets.

However, the problem for Ukraine, he said, is that Polish farmers are too focused on products from our country. Despite the fact that, as the Minister noted, over the past year:

• "Ukraine exported $1.6-1.7 billion worth of products to Poland;
• however, it imported from Poland products worth almost 1.1-1.2 billion dollars.

At the same time, Solsky emphasized, "none of the Ukrainians have heard that something should be banned from being imported from Poland." "We have always tried and are trying to negotiate. I'm absolutely sure that this degree of emotion needs to be reduced and that the Ukrainian theme should definitely not be used [by the Poles to their advantage]. ...The protest in Poland, unlike all other countries, has an exaggerated focus on Ukraine," the head of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy stated.

Poles are exaggerating the problem

At the same time, he emphasized that Ukraine still exports most of its grain via the sea corridor. Therefore, the Poles are simply exaggerating the problem in vain.

"In recent months, we have been trying to convey this to our Polish friends. We say: "Even if you lift the ban on grain, it will not go there from Ukraine, because the price in the port of Odesa is already more competitive than at your border, so keep in mind that in this discussion we are fighting against some phantoms," Solsky summarized.

Poland will check every batch of grain from Ukraine

At the same time, the Polish authorities decided to tighten control over Ukrainian grain, presumably believing that it was the quality of the product that was the issue. It was stated that after its transit to Germany, it turns out that it is of poor quality, and in 99% of cases, the goods are returned to Poland - but under the guise of European ones.

According to Polish Deputy Minister of Agriculture Michał Kolodziejczak, they intend to check all grain in transit through Poland, both at the land border and in ports.

At the same time, Kolodziejczak expressed the opinion that the grain inspection procedures in place at the border are incorrect. And they determine "whether or not Polish agriculture will survive," and, notably, he personally, thus linking his career to this issue.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, according to the Ukrainian ambassador to Poland, Polish farmers blocking the border have no objective reasons to expand their protest. Therefore, the problem should be resolved in a constructive and negotiated manner. Otherwise, only Russia will win, and the protesting farmers will also be among the losers.

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