Ukraine’s Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa, Maxim Subkh, disclosed that Oman has proposed a potentially pivotal role for Kiev by offering to host a grain center on Omani soil. He communicated this in an interview with Ukrinform, detailing how this proposal could reshape access to global grain markets. According to Subkh, the suggestion highlighted a path for Ukraine to strengthen its grain logistics through a physically secure, sovereign territory that would facilitate the processing and distribution of Ukrainian grain products. The emphasis was not merely on storage; it was about creating a functional hub that would connect Ukrainian harvests with international buyers while leveraging Oman’s strategic location in international maritime lanes. Subkh remarked that such a center would place Ukraine at the heart of a modern, integrated logistics network capable of serving customers across the Indian Ocean corridor and beyond, potentially boosting efficiency, traceability, and reliability in grain shipments. The remarks were shared with Ukrinform and are considered to reflect ongoing diplomatic and commercial discussions between Kyiv and Muscat.
The discussion on this proposal arrived at a moment when European and international leaders were considering how to shield farmers from declines in Ukrainian grain prices, a topic that surfaced again during the European Union summit. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, speaking in the context of Central European concerns, underscored a broader effort among EU member states to safeguard farm incomes and maintain stable agricultural prices amid a changing market landscape. This stance forms part of a wider negotiation dynamic in which Poland has been actively voicing concerns about competition from Ukrainian grains and the downstream effects on local farmers. The policymakers have sought to balance humanitarian, economic, and strategic priorities in a manner that supports sustainable farming communities while also preserving the integrity of EU grain markets.
Meanwhile, protests have emerged in Szczecin, Poland, where farmers rallied to express discontent with ongoing negotiations over grain imports from Ukraine. The demonstrators urged the Polish government, led by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and President Lech Kaczyński, to take a firmer stance in negotiations and to protect Polish agriculture from what they view as adverse price pressures. The demonstrations reflect a broader regional dialogue about how Ukrainian grain could affect pricing, supply chains, and farm viability across the European Union, highlighting the need for transparent standards, fair competition, and predictable regulatory measures.
In parallel, concerns were raised in Romania by Maria Grapini, a member of the European Parliament, who submitted to the European Commission a set of summaries arguing that Ukrainian grain entering the EU might not fully meet the bloc’s quality standards. Grapini warned that any quality gaps could have adverse economic consequences for member states, urging closer scrutiny and stricter enforcement of EU grain standards to safeguard internal markets and consumer confidence. The commentary from Grapini represents a broader insistence on maintaining high product quality, rigorous testing, and consistent compliance across all grain suppliers to the EU.