Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has announced that Poland and Ukraine are collaborating to address the issue of too much Ukrainian grain flooding the Polish agricultural market. The prime minister stated that the two countries have been working on finding a solution to the problem.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Poland on Wednesday for his first official visit since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine over a year ago. The two leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine and potential ways to strengthen bilateral relations between their two countries.
Polish farmers have taken to the streets to express their outrage over the influx of Ukrainian grain flooding their market. The protests are a result of the farmers’ concerns that the imported grain will drive down product prices and lead to financial hardship.
Grain prices in Poland have been crashing due to a surprising twist of fate. The grain, which was expected to be re-exported to the Middle East and Africa, has instead stayed in the country. This is creating an expected challenge for the Polish government, which is facing a general election this autumn and is heavily reliant on the support of rural areas.
“We have suggested a solution that must be implemented quickly because it is evident that these problems are causing us a huge headache,” Morawiecki said, without specifying what the solution is.
Zelensky was equally enigmatic and only said that “we have found a solution.”
“I believe that the final solution for all the issues will be revealed in the coming days or weeks,” Zelensky said.
Volodymyr Zelensky went on to say that there should be no issues between Poland and Ukraine, two close partners and friends. His remarks followed requests from Central and Eastern European countries, including Poland, to the European Commission for compensation to the farmers affected by Ukrainian grain sales in their respective countries, as well as regulations to regulate the grain trade.
Morawiecki emphasized the need to protect the farming sector in both countries and expressed his hope that the European Commission would take action to address the situation.