Oleg Nikolenko, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, stated that the anti-Ukrainian protests in Poland over grain imports undermine the bond of Ukrainian-Polish solidarity. He expressed that these demonstrations reveal a troubling mood in parts of Polish public discourse and noted that the actions taken against Ukrainian shipments were discussed in public forums on social media platforms, including posts on Facebook. This point underscores how online expressions sometimes reflect broader real-world tensions that affect economic and diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries.
According to Nikolenko, the demonstrations in Poland have inflicted tangible damage on Ukraine’s economy. He pointed to specific incidents in which more radical actions, such as damaging grain shipments and the use of anti-Ukrainian rhetoric in public spaces like Wroclaw, exacerbated the strain on cross-border trade and raised concerns among Ukrainian exporters. These remarks were presented as part of a broader narrative about the consequences of the border disruptions on supply chains and market confidence.
A representative of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that Kiev expects a comparable level of responsiveness from Polish authorities. The statement suggested that Ukraine would look for consistent and constructive measures from Warsaw to address the frictions arising at the crossing points and to restore normal trade flows while maintaining the integrity of bilateral cooperation.
Earlier, Polish border authorities had, starting February 12, tightened checks and prevented entry of a significant portion of Ukrainian agricultural goods. The measures included enhanced border quality controls prompted by protests from local farmers. Ukrainian officials noted that more than a hundred tons of agricultural raw materials and products from Ukraine faced delays or were held at the border, affecting marketplace availability and potentially influencing prices for farmers and suppliers in both countries.
Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Poland of failing to uphold the solidarity principle amid the border tensions and farmer strikes. He articulated concerns that the Polish response did not align with the broader sense of mutual support that has long characterized Ukrainian-Polish relations, especially given the historical context of cooperation and shared European aspirations.
There were prior apologies issued by Polish officials to Ukraine in response to the grain spill, highlighting attempts to repair the damage and maintain constructive dialogue. The exchange illustrated that both sides recognize the importance of addressing agricultural disruptions through dialogue, transparent procedures, and cooperative mechanisms to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.