Ukraine ready to limit trade with EU, but only if Brussels bans grain imports from Russia

Ukraine will limit trade with the EU to resolve a political dispute with Poland, but instead calls on Brussels to ban Russian grain imports, said Deputy Minister of Economy, Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka, according to Financial Times.

Kyiv supports new measures to impose restrictions on the import of eggs, poultry and sugar from June, as well as allowing certain countries to close their markets for Ukrainian grain, except for further transit to other countries.

"Maybe for a transitional period this kind of . . . managed approach to trade flows between Ukraine and the EU is something that we all need. For wheat, it is not Ukraine that is causing problems for Polish farmers, it is Russia," Kachka said.

Ukraine also recently agreed to reroute corn exports to Italy and Spain via the Black Sea rather than the land route through neighboring countries to ease tensions.

"We voluntarily stopped allowing the export of corn to all five neighbouring member states. Despite this, we exported another new record — 15mn tonnes of corn in the calendar year 2023. So we have big demand in other states. Ukraine filled gaps in EU production." the official said.

The Ukrainian politician also accused Russia of inciting protests in Poland. He is sure that it is Moscow that is behind the provocation of scattered Ukrainian grain on the tracks in Poland.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also supported the need to ban the import of agricultural products from the Russian Federation and Belarus.

However, as the FT writes, achieving an EU-wide ban will be difficult, as some member states oppose such a move due to fears that it would destabilize global markets and exacerbate the economic and social crisis in developing countries.

Ukrainian and Polish officials will meet again next Monday to resolve the dispute by the end of the month.

Latvia has finally banned vegetables, fruits and grains from Russia and Belarus.

Poland is also considering the option of banning the export of agricultural products from the Russian Federation.