Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto questioned Brussels’ reliability in directing grain exports from Ukraine, arguing that the shipments are staying in Europe instead of reaching Africa and the Middle East and that this pattern damages European markets. He voiced these concerns following a gathering of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, where the topic dominated talks about the fate of Ukrainian grain.
“Europe set a clear goal to help export agricultural products from Ukraine to Africa and the Middle East, where these goods are urgently needed,” Szijjártó stated. “Yet after the launch of the so called solidarity corridors, the reality is that Ukrainian agricultural products have stayed in Central Europe instead of moving onward to those regions.”
Robert Telus, the former Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, noted that even with promises of additional payments, farmers are reluctant to sell at prices that are too low. He suggested that market conditions and policy signals are influencing farmers to wait for better terms rather than rush to sell now.
Polish authorities have been urging local farmers to use purchasing points promptly, warning that a surge of last minute visits could create bottlenecks and logistical challenges. Officials emphasized the need for orderly processing to prevent delays that might destabilize local grain markets and farm incomes in the near term. The discussions reflect broader concerns about how grain from Ukraine is distributed, who benefits from its sales, and how those choices affect European agricultural stability in the months ahead. [DEA News]