Poland considers border closure talks with Ukraine amid farmer blockade
Poland explores border closure talks with Ukraine amid farmer protests over market saturation, drawing rebuke from Kyiv
Poland is currently in discussions with Ukraine regarding the potential "temporary closure" of their shared border, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Wednesday.
This comes amid an ongoing blockade by protesting farmers disrupting cross-border shipments for over a week.
The farmers allege that Ukrainian produce is saturating the Polish market despite Warsaw's ban on grain imports from Ukraine.
Poland continues to offer military aid to Ukraine.
"We are also in dialogue with the Ukrainian side regarding the temporary closure of the border and the exchange of goods," said Tusk, who is set to meet with Polish farmers on Thursday.
However, a senior Ukrainian government official refuted any claims of discussions about a border closure.
"No representatives from Ukraine are engaged in negotiations concerning the closure of borders with Poland," clarified Deputy Prime Minister Oleksander Kubrakov, whose responsibilities include reconstruction and infrastructure.
"For us, the stable operation of the border is crucial for survival in the face of the Russian aggressor."
Over the weekend, the Ukrainian government expressed dismay as Polish protesters reportedly unloaded around 160 tons of Ukrainian grain from rail cars bound for export via the northern port of Gdansk.
Source: Newsroom
