Farmer protests are a source of tensions between Ukraine and its neighbors on the West who support its fight against Russian invasion but face pressure from farmers. A Ukrainian–Polish dispute over cheap imports of agricultural products from Ukraine has escalated as Polish farmers block border crossings into Poland to protest unfair competition and the EU’s climate change measures, endangering their livelihood. Polish farmers have intensified their protests by blocking almost all traffic with Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian grain currently blocked at the border by Polish farmers protesting EU policies is not intended for the Polish market.
Zelenskyy instructed the Ukrainian government to go to the Ukrainian–Polish border by February 24 to address the issue. He also invited Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Polish President Andrzej Duda, and European Union officials to join discussions at the border to address the farmers’ protests. Farmers across Europe have been protesting against constraints imposed by EU climate change measures and unfair competition, particularly from Ukraine after the EU waived duties on Ukrainian food imports to aid Ukraine post-Russian invasion.
Protests by Polish farmers have caused tensions with Ukraine, as they disrupted traffic and opened railway carriages to pour out grain at border crossings into Poland. Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Mykola Solskyi stressed that the grain was headed to Germany, not the Polish market. Warsaw has been a strong supporter of Kyiv but tensions arose with the protests. Mr. Zelenskyy condemned the protesting Polish farmers, noting that Ukraine exports only a small percentage of its grains through the Polish border. Warsaw and Kyiv will meet in late March to discuss the ongoing protests, military, humanitarian, and medical aid for Ukraine.
The Solidarity farmers’ trade union that organized the protests denied obstructing military and humanitarian transports. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized the need to protect Polish farmers and the market from the negative impacts of trade liberalization with Ukraine. EU Member of Parliament Norbert Lins proposed actions for the European Commission to address farmers’ challenges due to EU policies and trading practices related to agriculture. EU’s Green Deal legislation, aimed at fighting climate change, is a point of contention for European farmers.
Polish EU Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski acknowledged that trade and climate policies have led to farmer discontent within the EU. The commissioner stated that farmers must be protected from the impacts of trade liberalization with Ukraine and unfair competition. Before the Russian invasion, Ukraine exported most of its agricultural products through Black Sea ports to Asia and Africa. However, after Russian forces blocked the ports, Ukraine shifted to overland routes through EU countries, leading to increased exports to the EU. EU farmers face stricter standards, increasing their production costs and diminishing their competitiveness.