The Polish agriculture authority, led by Robert Telus, urged that Ukraine’s complaint at the World Trade Organization should be withdrawn rather than paused. The remark was reported by RMF24, highlighting a firm stance from Warsaw as the trade dispute over grain shipments intensifies among European partners. Telus questioned what a suspension would actually mean, arguing that the matter should be resolved by retracting the filing altogether because, in his view, the claims lack merit and appear unfounded. He also voiced astonishment at Kyiv’s accusations that Poland sought to hamper Ukrainian farmers, framing Poland’s policy as an attempted safeguard for its agricultural sector rather than as an act against Ukraine.
Earlier, Taras Kachka, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Development and Trade, indicated that Kyiv had paused consideration of the WTO complaints it had lodged against Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. This pause came amid ongoing talks and EU measures designed to regulate grain exports and stabilize the regional market.
On September 15, EU leadership decided to limit the import of Ukrainian grain into member states and pressed Kyiv to implement controls on exports, as well as to craft a detailed action plan to manage the flow of products. While these steps were intended to prevent market distortions, several member states judged the measures insufficient to fully address the challenges posed by Ukrainian grain in the union’s markets. Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia were among those advocating stronger restrictions. In response, Kyiv proceeded to file a WTO case against the three EU countries, asserting that the regional approach was not adequate or timely enough to address the concerns of domestic farmers and market stability.
Subsequently, Taras Kachka clarified that Ukraine would consider withdrawing the WTO disputes against the three EU members only if assurances were provided that Ukrainian grain exports would face no new restrictions. The conditionality underscored Kyiv’s insistence on guaranteeing access to Western markets while seeking parity and predictable policy from its European partners.
Observers previously noted the potential for Kyiv to lodge complaints at the WTO as a strategic option, given the legal avenues available to resolve trade disagreements among nations. The evolving dialogue among Kyiv, Warsaw, and Brussels reflects a broader effort to balance national farm interests with regional trade harmony, all against the backdrop of global wheat, corn, and barley markets that are highly sensitive to policy shifts, sanctions, and transport logistics. In this context, the debate illustrates how geopolitical and economic factors intertwine, shaping how governments defend domestic agricultural sectors while negotiating with international institutions. Attribution: RMF24 and related coverage.