‘I am ashamed’: Poland’s former FM Sikorski on Warsaw-Kyiv grain spat

Sikorski said this on RMF24 radio.

He commented on the words of Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki that Poland would no longer provide weapons to Ukraine.

"Putin hears this and begins to hope that he can win this war. Even if this were true, even if it turned out that our warehouses were almost empty, why would he say this? Because they are competing for votes with the Confederation (a far-right political alliance in Poland – ed.), for anti-Ukrainian votes. They have returned to their stupid nationalism, which can cost Poland dearly, because the only winner in this situation will be Putin," the diplomat said.

In his opinion, finding a solution to the grain problem is quite simple.

"Instead, the PiS government is attacking the European Union and Ukraine, which is fighting for its life. This is outrageous. I am ashamed of it. I just don't have enough words," Sikorski said. 

The ban on grain imports and Ukraine's claim to the WTO

On May 2, the European Commission adopted temporary safeguard measures against imports of certain agricultural products from Ukraine to 5 EU countries. Initially, the ban was to be in place until June 5. 

On May 12, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary called on the European Commission to extend the embargo on agricultural products from Ukraine until the end of the year.

On Friday, September 15, the European Commission decided not to extend the ban on Ukrainian grain exports to the EU: Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia announced that they would extend the embargo unilaterally.

Ukraine has filed a lawsuit with the WTO against the EU countries that maintain restrictions on grain imports. At the same time, Poland said it would not change its decision because it was trying to protect local farmers.

Ukraine announced that it may stop importing apples, onions, cabbage, and tomatoes from Poland.

In response, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that the country would no longer transfer weapons to Ukraine, but would arm itself. Polish politician Mirosław Czech said that Poland stopped supplying Ukraine with free weapons a long time ago, and the last tanks arrived last year or in early 2023.