Polish official says Ukraine's complaints over grain embargo are pressure, threats that won't succeed

He told RMF FM about this.

"This is a threat and another element of pressure from the Ukrainian side. These elements sometimes go beyond the scope of classical diplomacy on the part of Ukraine. It uses means of diplomatic pressure, sometimes very non-standard, and goes beyond certain limits," the minister said.

According to him, such threats do not impress Poland.

"And we are not impressed by such gestures or threats, it is just an element of pressure, but pressure that will not be effective," Szynkowski said.

He also reiterated what the politicians of the ruling Law and Justice party have been saying for several weeks: the embargo on Ukrainian goods will not be lifted after September 15.

According to him, Poland is fighting for the decision to extend the embargo to be made at the EU level.

Some details regarding ban on Ukraine grain imports

On February 2, Polish farmers began blocking checkpoints on the border with Ukraine. They were outraged that the uncontrolled inflow of Ukrainian grain to Poland had caused prices for their products to plummet. Local farmers argue that Ukrainian grain should have been transported through Poland only to ports, but it ended up on the Polish market. 

On August 25, Polish Agriculture Minister Robert Telus said that the country would demand that the European Union extend the ban on grain imports from Ukraine, and if it refuses, it will impose its own restrictions. Polish farmers are outraged that the uncontrolled inflow of Ukrainian grain to Poland has caused prices for their products to plummet. Local farmers argue that Ukrainian grain should be transported through Poland only to ports, but it ends up on the Polish market.

On September 1, Ukraine's Deputy Economy Minister Taras Kachka told Politico that Ukraine will complain to the World Trade Organization if the grain embargo is extended beyond September 15.