The Ukrainian market is important for them: what problems are the Poles creating for themselves due to protests?

< p _ngcontent-sc90 class="news-annotation">Polish farmers blocked checkpoints with Ukraine for trucks. The possibility of resolving this situation remains with the Polish side, because it is its protesters who are blocking the border.

This opinion 24 Channel said political scientist Igor Reiterovich, adding that our state does not create any obstacles for Polish business and does not prohibit the import of goods into Ukraine. Moreover, Ukraine is not a transit country for Poland.

The Ukrainian market is needed by the Poles

First of all, the Polish government must deal with what is happening inside the country. Because the political confrontation continues. These processes harm Ukrainian-Polish cooperation. Therefore, something needs to be done about this.

Regarding the statements of the Ukrainian authorities about protecting business, it is very good that there is an appropriate reaction. After all, Ukraine operates within the legal framework, it has not violated any norms or agreements.

Ukraine has repeatedly said that it is ready for compromises that will resolve situation and will reassure farmers about the appearance of Ukrainian agricultural products on their market,” the political scientist noted.

Although if you look at the statistics, it becomes clear that no more than 5 % of Ukrainian grain. At the same time, it is bought by Polish companies themselves. Therefore, by opposing the import of certain goods into Poland, the Poles create problems for other sectors of the economy that are interested in these goods because they are profitable.

Profit is the basis of a market economy, so what farmers are doing, to put it mildly, disrupts the economy and creates global problems at the level of the entire European Union. Ukraine still has tools that it has not used, for example, an appeal to the European commissions, emphasized Igor Reiterovich.

The meeting of the Ukrainian and Polish sides, which is scheduled for March, should not be introductory. It should consider specific initiatives and make decisions. It is definitely impossible to drag out this problem until the summer, because then the new harvest will begin.

“We must not forget that the Poles export products to Ukraine worth at least 12 billion dollars. In this context, the Ukrainian the market is very important for them. But with such actions they can lose it, and for this you don’t even need action from the authorities, the reaction of citizens is enough,” the political scientist noted.

What's happening at the border: current news

• Polish farmers blocked traffic at six checkpoints. In certain areas they did not even let cars and buses through. Now these types of transport are running. As for trucks, there are now more than 2 thousand vehicles in the queue.
• During the blockade, protesters repeatedly poured Ukrainian grain out of the cars. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmyhal said that there was a reaction from the Polish side, and the first people accused of vandalism have already appeared in court. He added that pro-Russian influence is noticeable in this situation.
• Lithuanian farmers refused to join the protest. They will not block the movement of Ukrainian grain and note that Russian food has a significant influence on their market. At the same time, the Poles announced that on March 1, 2024 they would begin a blockade on the border with Lithuania.