Poland and Ukraine have achieved a breakthrough in their dispute over Ukrainian grain exports. In a joint agreement with Lithuania agreed on Tuesday, the countries agreed to speed up the transit of exports to African and Middle Eastern markets through Poland.
From Wednesday, exports that will be sent through Lithuanian ports will no longer be controlled at the Polish-Ukrainian border, Polish Agriculture Minister Robert Telus told journalists.
Thus, Lithuania will assume “full responsibility” for the inspection of the goods. Poland will continue to build transit corridors “because it is good for Polish farmers, for Ukraine, for the European Union and for the whole world”.
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Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has blocked the classic Ukrainian grain export route through the Black Sea. The EU has imposed trade restrictions on Ukraine for land transport in order to protect farmers in transit countries – including Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania. Grain from Ukraine was allowed to be transported across countries, but was not sold there. When the restrictions expired, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia extended the ban, causing diplomatic tensions with Kiev.