Kyiv officials renew strong rebuke of Polish border obstructions, appeal to Polish government to act
The blocking of the Polish-Ukrainian border by protesters has no justification, regardless of the slogans used, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko said on Facebook on Feb. 20.
"Land borders remain important in the face of Russian aggression," the diplomat said.
“The actions of Polish protesters and some radical Polish politicians undermine Ukraine's economy and resilience to repel Russian aggression.”
Read also: Polish government asks Ukraine to scrap e-Queue system at three border crossings despite talks
The border between Poland and Ukraine is also the border with the European Union, so it "should not be held hostage to any political interests," he stated.
"The anti-Ukrainian slogans heard at the border confirm the politically motivated nature of the actions," said Nikolenko.
“Its goal is to provoke further aggravation of bilateral relations. Instead, the protesters make no mention of the threats posed by the import of grain and other agricultural products from Russia and other countries.”
Read also: Polish grain protests: unclear if other countries are participating — State Customs Service
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson also called on the Polish authorities to ensure the unblocking of the border and take measures to stop anti-Ukrainian rhetoric.
This is not the first sharp criticism of the actions of the Polish protesters by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. On Feb. 16, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that Polish protesters who continue to block the Ukrainian border not only cause substantial losses to the Ukrainian economy, which is already suffering from Russian aggression but also violate the principles of Ukrainian-Polish solidarity.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stressed that by doing so, the Polish protesters were only helping Russia in its war against Ukraine. European countries should not forget that Ukrainians pay with their lives for Europe to live in peace.
Blocked Ukrainian-Polish border — what is known
Polish farmers resumed protests near the Korczowa-Krakivets checkpoint on Feb. 13. This is the sixth checkpoint on the border blocked by protesters.
They had previously blocked five checkpoints on the border with Ukraine, as hundreds of trucks are standing in queues. The strike may last until March 10.
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The Polish farmers also announced a complete blockade of the Ukrainian border. From Feb. 20, traffic will be blocked at all checkpoints, as well as transportation links and entrances to transshipment railway stations and seaports will be blocked.
The protesting farmers who are blocking the largest checkpoints on the border with Ukraine have put forward many demands, among which are: the complete refusal of duty-free trade with Ukraine and the complete closure of the Ukrainian-Polish border for trucks.
During the protest, some participants began to tear locks off Ukrainian trucks and spill grain from them. The incident caused a scandal.
The Ukrainian Ambassador urged strong response to Polish farmers’ “shameful and offensive” grain spillage, saying that Ukrainian diplomats had appealed to the Polish police, who had launched an investigation of the incident on Feb. 12. Polish Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Siekierski issued an apology.
For their part, Ukrainian carriers began to block the border on Feb. 15 in response to the actions of Polish farmers. The Ukrainians blocked the entry of trucks from Poland through the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint.
Negotiations between Kyiv and Warsaw on regulating the imports of Ukrainian agricultural products are in the final stages, Minister Siekierski said during a meeting with Polish farmers who are blockading the Ukrainian border on Feb. 15.
Media reported on Feb. 17 that farmers from four EU countries were expected to join the protests on the Polish-Ukrainian border.
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