The main problem of Polish farmers is the export of grain and food from Russia and Belarus, – Shmyhal

The main problem of Polish farmers is the export of grain and food from Russia and Belarus. Blocking the border itself is pointless, as more than 90% of exports go by sea. This was stated by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at a press conference, according to an LB.ua correspondent.

“Blocking the border by Polish farmers is pointless. Because 90 percent of our exports go by sea or through the Danube ports. Less than 5 percent goes by road,” he said.

The Prime Minister reminded that the Ukrainian government had offered Poland five clear steps to resolve the blockade.

“The Polish government is considering them, some of them are already in the communication of the Polish government and the Polish Prime Minister. I hope that Polish farmers will also understand the statistics and the causes of their troubles, which we directly link to the export of grain and food from Russia and Belarus,” he added.

“We insist and included this in one of the five points. Namely, the need to stop such trade for the EU countries and Poland in particular,” Shmyhal emphasized.

He noted that despite the protests of Polish carriers and farmers, not a single case of blocking the supply of weapons, military equipment, humanitarian aid and fuel to Ukraine has been recorded.

“That is, all these cargoes go to Ukraine unhindered, and this is important to avoid manipulation. That is why the cases that are again appearing in telegram channels are being exaggerated there, these are not military equipment, these are commercial vehicles… Therefore, it is important that no official cargo, which is officially registered as military or humanitarian support, has been detained,” Shmyhal said.

He reminded that the election campaign has begun in Poland, where the issue of blocking the border is also being used.

“But Ukraine is bleeding, and farmers who lose their lives, equipment, and their land are probably suffering no less than farmers in neighboring countries. Therefore, it is important to maintain the balance of morality as well,” he urged.

He assured that since the government adopted a resolution on September 16 last year, not a single ton of Ukrainian grain and four groups of goods has entered or been supplied to Poland.

“All groups of goods are in transit through Poland. I believe that manipulations that something enters Lithuania and then leaves are impossible, and my colleague, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šemoniti, said this… Unfortunately, there are exports from Belarus and Russia, in particular through Poland. And this is what we should pay attention to,” Shmyhal said.

The Prime Minister hopes that the crisis will be resolved on March 28.

“Unfortunately, it is not on our side to resolve this crisis. It is on the side of Poland, Polish farmers, carriers, the Polish government, and Polish society,” he said.

Meanwhile, Polish farmers continue to block all six checkpoints on the border with Ukraine.

Tags: export, grain, protests, Belarus, Russia