Visegrad Group Ministers Discuss Ukraine Grain Embargo and WTO Complaint
During a meeting held in Znojmo, Czech Republic, the Ministers of Agriculture from the Visegrad Group — Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia — exchanged views on the situation surrounding Ukraine’s grain embargo and the World Trade Organization complaint. They concluded that Ukraine’s decision to withdraw its WTO complaint could ease tensions and foster more constructive dialogue among the neighboring nations. Polish Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ryszard Bartosik commented that the question of Ukraine withdrawing the complaint had not been answered by Kyiv, yet the overall mood of the discussions pointed toward improving mutual relations and enabling ongoing discussions about how to handle grain flows.
“We were taken aback by the WTO complaint against our country and we hope Ukraine will consider withdrawing it,” Bartosik said after the Znojmo talks. He emphasized that such a withdrawal would pave the way for future talks and underscore Poland’s openness to a cooperative approach with Ukraine.
The Ukrainian perspective
Ukraine’s Minister of Agriculture, Mykola Solski, reviewed the matter following calls from other Visegrad partners to suspend or withdraw their own applications. When questioned about Ukraine’s stance, Solski did not offer a direct answer. He indicated that while the issue itself may not be the core concern for Kyiv in the moment, it remains highly important. The minister noted that a positive resolution could help create a favorable atmosphere and prevent lengthy procedural delays.
Bartosik added that Ukraine has maintained its position on issuing its own permits for grain movements. Kyiv argues that decisions on grain intake should be left to Ukrainian authorities, warning that a unilateral approach could trigger an uncontrolled influx of grain across borders and destabilize markets in neighboring countries.
The Polish deputy minister also highlighted that the volume of grain transit through European corridors has risen steadily, which raises questions about why the European Union has not expanded regulatory measures to address the flow. He summarized the takeaway from the discussions as a call for Ukrainian grain to reach destinations where it is most needed, while avoiding disruption to agricultural markets in nearby states.
The Czech host and Agriculture Minister Marek Vyborny closed the meeting by noting that Visegrad partners urged the European Commission to monitor solidarity corridors that move Ukrainian grain toward third countries. They also suggested a deposit system for Ukrainian agricultural products transported across the European Union to ensure accountability and traceability.
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Source: wPolityce