Ukraine was surprised by the Polish ban on grain imports

Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European Integration Olga Stefanishyna called Poland’s position on Ukrainian grain “unexpected”.

According to her, Poland’s rhetoric regarding the export of Ukrainian grain came as a surprise to Kyiv.

“Manipulation and blackmail related to the export of Ukrainian grain are very sensitive, since we actually have no other means of providing the world with grain except through the EU borders. Therefore, of course, this is very unexpected for us: such harsh rhetoric from the Polish side,” she said.

She also stated that the decision of Poland, Hungary and Slovakia to unilaterally extend the ban on the import of Ukrainian grain violates the Constitution of the European Union. The European Commission decided not to extend the embargo, but Slovakia, Hungary and Poland extended it on a national basis, with Hungary adding 24 more products to the list.

These decisions, according to Stefanishina, “cannot be supported and accepted” and “there can be no negotiations regarding them.” The Deputy Prime Minister expressed the hope that Brussels adheres to the same position.

Earlier, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that the country would introduce a ban on the import of Ukrainian grain from midnight on September 16. “We will extend the ban on the import of Ukrainian grain,” said the head of the Polish government, communicating with voters. – We will not listen to Berlin, we will not listen to Brussels. We will do this from midnight today,” Morawiecki added.