Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Kuleba declares country's wish to overcome grain crisis as soon as possible

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told Interfax-Ukraine.

"History, the future and security simply leave us no choice but to overcome this crisis. We did not create this crisis, and we are absolutely determined to end it. Emotions are running high. The temperature may still rise until October 15, the day of the elections in Poland. But we are determined to be constructive. We are working with the European Commission. We have sent clear signals to Poland that we are ready to resolve this situation constructively. We do not need this grain war, and neither does Poland," the minister said.

The resolution of the issue with Bulgaria and Romania is a sign that "there are no unsolvable problems," Kuleba emphasized.

"Let me remind you that at the beginning of the crisis this spring, there were five countries that imposed restrictions. Now Bulgaria and Romania have found a solution, while the other three countries have not. The reason why they haven't is obviously not because there are no solutions. There are other reasons why these solutions are not found," the Foreign Minister said.

He assured that the grain problem could be solved, "if there was a will to solve it."

"We have this desire," Kuleba said.

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

On September 21, it became known that Ukraine had proposed an agricultural export plan to Slovakia, and Bratislava called it acceptable.

On September 26, it became known that Ukraine had sent a proposal to 5 EU countries to export agricultural products. Later, the Ministry of Economy said that Ukraine would withdraw its claims to the World Trade Organization against neighboring countries if it received guarantees that there would be no restrictions on grain exports in the future.