"Ukrainian grain transit through Poland continues": Duda voices concerns about Polish market

This is reported by Polskie Radio.

"The transit of Ukrainian grain through Poland continues. In addition, there is much more grain than at the beginning of this year, thanks to the effective creation of transit corridors. As a result, this grain is going to the world, but we do not want the grain to flood the Polish market. This is justified in the context of our security interests," the Polish President emphasized.

Duda understands the situation of Ukraine and its major grain exporters, who want to sell their agricultural products quickly and profitably. However, he emphasized that it is also important to take into account Polish national interests, which oblige him to protect Polish farmers first and foremost.

"We have our own interests - to make sure that Polish farmers are safe and can do their work in peace. We have enough of our own food, we have our own grain. From our point of view, the situation in which millions of tons of grain from Ukraine are flowing into the Polish market is unacceptable," Duda emphasized.

According to the Polish president, Zelenskyy went too far in his statements: "Ukraine has received a lot of help and support from its allies and neighbors. It is sad that here, at the UN forum, there are such attacks against those who provided support. It is too much."

The President of Poland noted that the country had been by Ukraine's side from the very beginning. The Poles were the first to provide almost 300 tanks to Ukraine's neighbors. In addition, they handed over armored vehicles and howitzers "Krab", which became the first weapons of this class to be received by the Ukrainian army at the initial stage of the war: "The Polish position has been clear since 2015: those who really need help should receive it. If someone comes only for benefits, the Poles say no."

Ban on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine

On Friday evening, the Polish government imposed an embargo on imports of certain agricultural products from Ukraine, such as wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower.

Slovakia and Hungary have reportedly imposed similar bans.

This comes after the EU Executive Commission announced that it would not extend the bloc's ban on imports of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed, sunflower, and sunflower oil to Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia.

According to media reports, Poland has banned imports of Ukrainian agricultural products until further notice. At the same time, according to Polish officials, the transit of these products through the territory of Poland to other countries or to Polish seaports remains permitted. 

On Monday, Ukraine announced it is filing a lawsuit against Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia with the World Trade Organization over the ban on food imports from Ukraine.