Poland, Ukraine close to agricultural trade deal, but no breakthrough

By Jo Harper​​​​​​​

WARSAW (AA) - Poland and Ukraine are close to an agreement on agricultural imports, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Thursday after talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal in Warsaw.

"We are close to a solution," Tusk told a news conference. "This applies to the amount of products that can flow into Poland. Once we determine it, we are close to ensuring that transit does not disturb the Polish market."

"Neither I nor Prime Minister Szmyhal will achieve 100% satisfaction. This is what politics is all about. We need to look for solutions that will not affect either Polish or Ukrainian producers," said Tusk.

"We are looking for solutions for both sides regarding agriculture, we have moved a step forward. Poland launched a diplomatic offensive to block the import of Russian and Belarusian agricultural products. We have achieved an effect equivalent to an embargo," said Tusk.

​​​​​​​"Even among the closest friends, there are conflicts of interest, different interests, points of view. We can talk about it very honestly without any hidden agenda, I am very encouraged by this atmosphere," Tusk said.

Poland wants a licensing deal for agricultural trade with Ukraine similar to that signed with Kyiv by Romania and Bulgaria. However, no specific solutions that could help farmers were mentioned during the speech.

Farmers have been blockading the Ukrainian border for several weeks in protest over Ukrainian grain imports that they say undercut domestic farmers' prices.

"Today I can say that we definitely have progress regarding lifting of the (border) blockade," Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky said, noting that the discussions with Poland were "complicated but frank."

Ambassadors from EU countries reached a revised deal on Wednesday to extend tariff-free food imports from Ukraine.

Tusk also confirmed support for Ukraine in the war with Russia. "In terms of military support, financial assistance, assistance for Ukraine when it comes to joining NATO -- you can count on Poland," said Tusk.

“We are finishing the talks with an even deeper conviction that there is no power in the world that could undermine our friendship, solidarity and cooperation, especially in the face of the threat of Russia's aggressive policy,” Tusk said on Thursday.