Ukraine demands response from Poland as protesters block buses at border
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Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine and Minister of Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development, held urgent talks with Jacek Siewiera, head of Poland's National Security Bureau, regarding reports of Polish farmers blocking buses at the border, the Ministry said on Facebook on Feb. 19.
"Such actions and examples of inhuman treatment of Ukrainians on the EU border can be exploited by Russian special services to incite an artificial conflict between our countries,” the Ministry quoted Kubrakov.
“We expect tangible actions from our Polish colleagues to prevent such situations and address the issue comprehensively."
Despite the suspension of the blockade by Polish carriers, the situation at the border is "becoming even more critical," said Deputy Minister, Serhiy Derkach.
"Currently, 6 checkpoints are blocked on the Polish side of the border,” Derkach said.
“The most critical situation is at the Dorohusk–Yahodyn checkpoint, where the movement of trucks has come to a complete halt. Humanitarian, perishable goods and fuel are not being allowed through. This has a direct impact on our defense capability. Empty trucks destined for critically needed goods also cannot depart from Ukraine through this checkpoint."
Polish farmers resumed protests near the Korczowa-Krakowiec 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, hundreds of trucks arestanding in queues. The strike may last until March 10.
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.
Read also: Polish protesters block trucks with humanitarian aid along with other Ukrainian freight vehicles
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 final stages, Sekerski 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 would join the protests on the Polish-Ukrainian border.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
