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Poland to keep ban on Ukrainian grain 'until further notice': farm minister

04.01.2024 20:00
Poland will maintain its embargo on grain imports from Ukraine "indefinitely," to protect Polish farmers, while continuing to help Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion, the agriculture minister has said.  
Polands Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski meets reporters in Warsaw on Thursday, January 4, 2023.
Poland's Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski meets reporters in Warsaw on Thursday, January 4, 2023.X/Polish Ministry of Agriculture

Czesław Siekierski made the statement at a news conference in Warsaw on Thursday.

Speaking after a meeting with farmers' groups, the agriculture minister stated that "the embargo on Ukrainian products will remain in force indefinitely."

Siekierski added that "Ukraine must be assisted" amid Russia's aggression, but "in a way that does not undermine the profitability of Polish agricultural production."

On Wednesday, Poland's farm minister said the ban on Ukrainian grain would remain in force until Warsaw, Kyiv and the European Union, agree on "new terms," including "quotas and temporary measures," the Kresy24.pl website reported.

In early May, the European Commission, the executive arm of the 27-nation EU, introduced a ban on the import of wheat, corn, rapeseed, sunflower and sunflower oil from Ukraine to Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, based on an agreement with these countries.

The embargo was later extended until September 15, after which date Brussels decided not to prolong it further, the PAP news agency reported.

To protect their farmers against an influx of produce from Ukraine, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia introduced national bans on Ukrainian grain imports.

Thursday is day 680 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

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Source: gov.plKresy24.pl