Robert Telus made the remark in an interview with Polish state news agency PAP on Thursday.
The agriculture minister said that after the EU in May introduced a ban on the import of wheat, corn, rapeseed, sunflower and sunflower oil from Ukraine to Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, while allowing transit through these countries, Ukraine’s land-based grain exports rose from 7.3 million tonnes to 9.6 million tonnes.
Asked why Ukraine was opposing an extension of the EU embargo, Telus replied: “It’s not about the government, it’s about Ukrainian companies who find it easier to transfer the grain through the Polish or Slovakian border and leave it there.”
The Polish agriculture minister called on the EU “to take more efficient action to ensure a secure transit of Ukrainian grain” through Ukraine’s EU neighbours.
Telus said that the European Commission could make a decision on whether to extend the embargo on Ukrainian grain later on Thursday.
He argued that the extension should be for a longer period than two months.
Telus stated, as quoted by the PAP news agency: “We would like the ban to be prolonged until Ukraine, the five ‘frontline’ countries and the EU resolve issues related to Ukrainian products.”
Meanwhile, Adam Bielan, a member of European Parliament with Poland’s co-governing Republican Party, said on Thursday that Ukraine’s agricultural policy was influenced by “several wealthy Ukrainians” and big multinational companies.
In an interview with public broadcaster Polish Radio, Bielan said that “Poland must protect its agricultural sector” while continuing to help and support Ukraine in other areas.
On Tuesday, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that Poland would maintain an embargo on the import of Ukrainian grain after September 15, to prevent produce from Ukraine “from destabilising the Polish countryside.”
The EU ban on the import of wheat, corn, rapeseed, sunflower and sunflower oil from Ukraine to Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia was initially effective until June 5, and later extended until September 15.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Thursday is day 568 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP