Blocking the border: Hungary cannot cope with the influx of trucks to Ukraine

On Wednesday, long lines of trucks formed at the largest checkpoint on the Hungarian-Ukrainian border, Záhony-Chop, as truck owners were forced to change their routes, diverting trucks from checkpoints in Poland and Slovakia.

The Hungarian Tax and Customs Administration said that the authorities are stepping up efforts to allow more trucks across the border, but “the capacity of the Tisza bridge and the checkpoint is severely limiting their capabilities,” Reuters reports.

According to the agency, long lines of trucks waiting to enter Ukraine have formed at Hungary’s largest checkpoint, Záhony.

As a reminder, on November 6, Polish carriers went on strike and blocked truck traffic across the Ukrainian-Polish border. In particular, the movement of freight transport in the direction of the three largest checkpoints “Korczowa-Krakowiec”, “Hrebenne-Rava Ruska”, “Dorohusk-Yagodyn” is blocked.

On November 21, local carriers in Slovakia began blocking truck traffic through the Vysne Nemecke checkpoint on the border with Ukraine. However, the action was suspended on November 22.

The Polish protesters are demanding a ban on the registration of transportation companies with foreign capital in Poland, which is driving Polish entrepreneurs out of the market. They are also demanding the restoration of entry permits to the European Union for Ukrainian carriers and improved border services. The action of Polish carriers is planned to last for two months.

Negotiations between Ukrainian government officials and the protesters have not yielded any results, and Mustafa Nayyem, head of the State Agency for Reconstruction and Development, emphasized that Ukraine will not even discuss some of the demands of Polish carriers.

Tags: Ukraine, Hungary