A plan to stabilize the fragile situation was floated by the Ukrainian Ministry of Agricultural and Food Policy, which proposed a new cooperation memorandum with Poland in response to Poland’s ban on Ukrainian agricultural imports. Polish officials indicated a readiness to explore further steps to calm market tensions, while still enforcing the import restrictions at the time. This stance follows concerns that Ukrainian shipments such as grains, sugar, and eggs could disrupt Poland’s agri-food balance and impact local producers.
Polish Development and Technology Minister Waldemar Buda announced on social media that, in line with the Council of Ministers decision, a regulation banning imports of Ukrainian agricultural products had been signed. The regulation set an effective date focused on ensuring the ban would apply by June 30 of the current year. This enforcement encompassed various goods including grains, sugar, eggs, and other agricultural products.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Agricultural and Food Policy, in its response to the Polish action, issued a communique calling for renewed Polish-Ukrainian cooperation. Kyiv proposed forming a new memorandum on joint oversight and investigation of any reported abuses tied to the current trade tensions.
Key decision and rationale
Speaking to PAP, government spokesperson Piotr Müller explained that the Polish government acted because no other effective measures were available to stabilize Poland’s agri-food market. He stressed that the move was necessary at that moment and noted that a joint letter from Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary to the European Commission had already been sent, led by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Müller said the Commission had not delivered a satisfactory remedy, so national action became unavoidable.
He added that Poland was open to additional measures that could help defuse the crisis, but that decisive action was required now.
Agriculture Minister Robert Telus also referenced Kyiv’s invitation to discuss the situation. He said discussions would proceed soon and anticipated a meeting with Ukrainian counterparts on Monday to examine the issues, with details on the venue and format still being arranged.
In its communiqué, Kyiv affirmed Ukraine’s willingness to cooperate with Poland in examining any abuses that may have occurred and contributed to the present stand-off. Kyiv argued that the crisis should spur closer cooperation to address the root causes, which it attributes to Russian aggression. The Ukrainian ministry criticized Poland’s temporary export restrictions, while reiterating support for open, constructive collaboration under the Association Agreement and Free Trade Agreements between Ukraine and the EU.
Trade volumes and domestic proposals
Ukraine’s Agriculture and Food Policy Minister Mykola Solski told reporters that shipments from Ukraine across the Polish border amount to roughly 500,000 to 700,000 tons over several months, including grain, oil, sugar, eggs, and meat, according to Ukrinform.
During a gathering in Łyse near Ostrołęka, a Law and Justice convention on agriculture showcased a package of farmer-focused measures under the banner of Jarosław Kaczyński’s Concrete For Polish Village. The proposals included broad grain purchases, fertilizer subsidies, and a ban on Ukrainian agricultural imports. Law and Justice officials shared snippets of these plans on social media.
PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński stated at the convention that the government had decided to ban the entry of grain and many other Ukrainian food products into Poland. He described the regulation as prohibiting the import of grain and dozens of other goods listed in an annex, spanning items from grains to honey products and beyond. He emphasized the scale of the measures and signaled decisive action by the state.
The developments have been tracked by various Polish outlets, with coverage reflecting both government equities and opposition concerns about the impact on trade and farmers. The reporting highlighted ongoing debate over how best to balance border protections with Ukraine’s EU association framework and regional stability. Analysts note that this is a dynamic policy space influenced by broader European responses to the conflict and the state of agricultural markets across Central Europe.
Note: The content reflects summaries of statements and policy moves reported by Polish media and government spokespeople and may be subject to change as negotiations continue. The broader context includes ongoing discussions about regional trade resilience, agricultural support programs, and the role of EU institutions in mediating partnerships with neighboring countries.