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Ukraine determined to solve grain issue with Poland: Ukrainian FM

28.09.2023 13:00
Ukraine is determined to resolve the issue of its grain exports with Poland as neither Kyiv nor Warsaw needs a “grain war,” Ukraine’s foreign minister has said.
Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.Mfa.gov.ua, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Dmytro Kuleba made the declaration in an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, published on Thursday.

Referring to the issue of grain, and Poland’s ban on Ukrainian grain imports, Ukraine’s top diplomat said: "History, future and security simply leave us no other choice but to get out of this crisis.”

Kuleba said Ukraine was “absolutely committed” to resolving the matter.

He added: “We have conveyed clear signals to Poland about our commitment to a constructive solution to this situation. We don't need this grain war and neither does Poland.”

On Wednesday, Poland’s Agriculture Minister Robert Telus held talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Mykola Solskyi and said afterwards that Ukraine would consider dropping its lawsuit against Poland at the World Trade Organisation over the grain import ban. 

Telus also said Poland would consider Ukraine’s proposals that Kyiv license its grain exports to Poland, and that the checks on the grain coming out of Ukraine be held in German ports, rather than on the Polish-Ukrainian border, Polish state PAP news agency reported.

In Thursday’s interview, Ukraine’s foreign minister also stressed: “We are genuinely and deeply grateful to the Polish public and authorities who have offered us help and open arms from the beginning of the Russian invasion.”

Thursday is day 582 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

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

(pm)

Source: PAP, Interfax-Ukraine