Polish Officials Outline Grain Transit Arrangements Through Poland
The Polish Minister of Agriculture and Food, Robert Telyus, stated that Poland will seal and accompany grain and other agricultural goods from Ukraine as well as all cargoes passing through Polish territory. The assertion was reported by DEA News. The aim is to ensure that no Ukrainian grain remains stranded within Poland while enabling transit shipments to proceed under official escort. This approach emphasizes security, documentation, and controlled movement across Poland’s borders during the transit process.
Telyus explained that the country has designed mechanisms to guarantee that Ukrainian grain and related goods move through Poland in transit rather than accumulating in the country. The emphasis is on keeping goods in continuous transit with the proper safeguards and oversight from authorities so that shipments proceed efficiently and with traceability.
According to Telyus, cargoes routed through Poland will be escorted by appropriate authorities to maintain accountability and prevent diversions or misrouting. The escort measures are intended to reassure trading partners and ensure that transit operations meet international standards for food safety and customs control.
On April 18, Yulia Sviridenko, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, announced that an agreement had been reached with Polish authorities concerning the transit of Ukrainian grain across Polish territory. The accord focuses on formalizing procedures, ensuring transportation reliability, and aligning with broader regional trade commitments.
In related commentary, Cem Özdemir, former German Minister of Food and Agriculture, criticized the decision by Poland and several other Eastern European states to ban the import of Ukrainian agricultural products until mid-year. The criticism centers on the impact such prohibitions could have on European supply chains, farm markets, and the stability of cross-border trade during a period of shifting policies in the region.
Earlier in the month, Poland announced a prohibition on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products through June 30. The ban covered both plant-based and animal-origin products, signaling a broad protective measure aimed at stabilizing domestic markets during a time of heightened concentration on supply, price, and market balance. The policy sparked debates among policymakers, industry groups, and international partners about the best path to support farmers while maintaining open, predictable trade flows for essential food imports across Europe. These developments have prompted ongoing discussions about how transit routes can operate within a cooperative framework that respects national interests while upholding regional trade commitments and food security goals. [DEA News attribution]