Polish farmers plan to escalate protests along the border with Ukraine on Tuesday, aiming to halt almost all traffic.
They say this action is necessary to protect their livelihoods, although Kyiv claims it’s impeding their war efforts. Farmers across Europe have been staging demonstrations against various challenges, including constraints imposed by EU climate change measures, increasing expenses, and perceived unfair competition, particularly from Ukraine.
“There will be a total blockade of all traffic at border crossings,” said Adrian Wawrzyniak, a spokesperson for the Solidarity farmers’ union.
Wawrzyniak stated that while military assistance would still be permitted to pass through, all passenger traffic, not just trucks, would be halted. He mentioned plans for blockades at ports and on motorways.
These protests represent a heightened level of unrest compared to previous demonstrations by truckers and farmers, which did not completely obstruct all border crossings.
Kyiv asserts that its agricultural exports across Eastern Europe have not negatively impacted EU markets. As frustration with the protests in Poland grows, Ukrainian hauliers intend to conduct a peaceful round-the-clock protest at three crossings already blocked by Polish farmers.
In a statement to the Ukrinform news agency, a representative of the Ukrainian hauliers mentioned their intention to monitor movement at crossings to prevent Polish trucks from bypassing the general queue. The protest is scheduled to continue until March 15.
Although Poland became one of Ukraine’s strongest allies following Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, the border protests have strained relations.
Poland’s new pro-European government has expressed sympathy for the farmers’ grievances but has also urged them to refrain from actions that could undermine Kyiv’s war efforts.
Ukraine argues that the blockades are impacting its defense capabilities and aiding Russia’s objectives.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Monday that the situation at the border illustrates “the erosion of solidarity on a daily basis.” He added that only 5% of Ukraine’s agricultural exports pass through the border with Poland, emphasizing that the issue is more about politics than grain.
“We need common decisions, rational decisions, to resolve this situation,” he added.
Poland’s Deputy Agriculture Minister Michal Kolodziejczak, in comments to public radio, rejected such criticism on Tuesday, and suggested that Zelenskyy should come and “see the problems of Polish farmers” for himself.
Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Siekierski has previously said he is negotiating with Ukraine and that a deal limiting imports could be reached by the end of March.
Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky said on Monday that Kyiv was “ready for all options” and sought a “constructive” solution.
“Some forces are using these protests for provocation, and what you should definitely not do is to give in to provocation,” he said.
