History, the present and the current security situation leave us no choice but to overcome the crisis in relations with Poland; There is no need for a war over grain, neither for us nor for Poland, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Thursday.
We did not cause this crisis, but we are determined to end it. Emotions run wild. By October 15, election day (parliamentary in Poland), temperatures may rise even further. However, we intend to act constructively. We work together with the European Commission. We have sent clear signals to Poland that we want to find a constructive solution to this situation
– said the head of Ukrainian diplomacy.
Kuleba referred to the recent agreement reached by the Ukrainian authorities on relations with Romania and Bulgaria. According to him, an amicable settlement of disputes with Bucharest and Sofia over grain imports could also serve as a model solution in relations with Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.
(These three countries) have not found a solution, not because there is no solution. There are some other reasons. (…) Using the example of relations with Romania and Bulgaria, we have shown that there are no problems that cannot be solved
– emphasized the minister.
Ban on grain imports from Ukraine
The ban on the import of wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflowers from Ukraine to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia was introduced by the European Commission in early May as a result of an agreement with these countries on Ukrainian agri-food products. The restrictions were initially in place until June 5, then extended until mid-September. The embargo was lifted on September 15 based on the decision of the European Commission.
On September 16, a regulation on the indefinite ban on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products to Poland came into force. The governments of Hungary and Slovakia also decided to unilaterally extend import restrictions.
On September 18, Kiev filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) about the decision of authorities in Warsaw, Bratislava and Budapest.
Poland believes that Ukraine has failed to comply with statements made to the European Commission on grain exports. On September 15, Ukraine promised to introduce effective mechanisms to limit the inflow of grain and propose legal arrangements to solve the problem, but in Poland’s opinion it has not done so either.
On September 21, Polish Minister of Agriculture Robert Telus had a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Mykola Solski. As he explained in response to PAP’s question, the way to resolve the dispute with Kiev should be to create a solidarity corridor so that Ukrainian grain does not flow to Poland. Telus called on the Ukrainian side to withdraw its WTO complaint against Poland.
Kułeba: We are very sincerely grateful to the Polish society and authorities for their help
We are very sincere and deeply grateful to the Polish society and authorities for offering us their help and open arms since the beginning of the Russian invasion; Therefore, rumors about our alleged lack of gratitude towards Poland pose a strategic threat to us, Poland and Europe, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Thursday.
I do not believe that the current grain issues pose a strategic threat because these issues will be resolved. (This threat) is the active spread of opinions about the alleged lack of gratitude of Ukrainians. This is completely untrue. (…) We have already spoken about (our gratitude to Poland) a hundred times and we will repeat it a hundred more times
– said the head of Ukrainian diplomacy.
The minister believed that strengthening the belief in Polish society about the ingratitude of Ukraine and Ukrainians could have “exceptionally serious consequences” not only in interpersonal relations, but also negatively affect the security situation.
We are talking about the security of Poles, Ukrainians and all of Europe – Kułeba warned.
tkwl/PAP
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Source: wPolityce