Poland and Ukraine may 'temporarily' close border for trade - PM Tusk

This was reported by pap.pl.

According to Tusk, negotiations are currently underway with the Ukrainian side on the possibility of completely closing the Ukrainian-Polish border to trade in goods. In his opinion, this could be a temporary solution, which, however, would be “painful for both sides.”

"I am ready to make tough decisions when it comes to the border with Ukraine, in consultation with Kyiv, so that there is no unnecessary tension. But we must find a long-term solution," the Polish Prime Minister said.

Tusk's statement came on the eve of an agricultural summit in Warsaw, where he plans to meet with the protesters' leaders

Strikes on the border between Poland and Ukraine

On February 7, Polish farmers sent an official notice to resume strikes on the border with Ukraine. The blocking of the Dorohusk-Yahodyn checkpoint began on February 9. The protest was approved by the local authorities until March 9.

Earlier, the Polish farmers' union Solidarity announced a general strike across the country on February 9. At the time, it was noted that it would begin with a blockade of all checkpoints on the border with Ukraine, as well as blocking roads and highways in certain voivodeships.

The reason for the resumption of the protests is simple: according to one of the organizers, Roman Kondruv, it is because since the previous protests, the authorities have done nothing to solve the problem of technical grain from Ukraine.

On February 12, on the Ukrainian-Polish border, near the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint, Poles poured grain from Ukrainian trucks directly onto the ground.

On February 20, they promised to block all border crossings with Ukraine for a month. Ukrainian transporters held their own peaceful protest in response to the actions of Polish farmers. Ukraine's State Border Guard Service stated that they had not received any information from the Polish side regarding the complete blocking of the border. In response to the Polish blockade, Ukrainian carriers are preparing an action at three checkpoints.

On February 20, Polish farmers on the border with Ukraine blocked the railroad and poured grain out of a freight car. Later it turned out that it was headed to Germany.

On the evening of February 20, Polish protesters eased traffic restrictions near the border with Ukraine at two checkpoints, including Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska, and began allowing cars to pass through.

Poland's Consul General in Lviv condemned the border blockade and apologized to Ukraine, while Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal later said that Ukraine and Poland were “ready for reasonable compromises” on negotiations on the situation at the border.

Polish protesters temporarily stopped blocking the Ustyluh-Zosyn checkpoint after blocking it the day before.

On February 25, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Poland had already brought the first offenders on the Ukrainian-Polish border to justice, and that they faced imprisonment.

Subsequently, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that the EU should reinstate the restrictions on imports of Ukrainian products that were in place before Russia's full-scale invasion.