The Polish government has decided to ban imports of grain and other food from Ukraine to protect the Polish agricultural sector, the leader of the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS), Jaroslaw Kaczyński, said on Saturday.
Due to logistical constraints, large amounts of Ukrainian grains, which are cheaper than those produced in the European Union, have ended up remaining in Central European states, lowering prices and sales for local farmers.
In an election year, this has created a political headache for the PiS.
“Today, the government has decided on a regulation that prohibits the entry, importation of grain into Poland, but also dozens of other types of food (from Ukraine),” Kaczyński said during the PiS party convention.
The government legislation would include a list of these goods, which range “from grain to honey products, very, very many things,” he added.
“We are and remain unchanged friends and allies of Ukraine. We will support her and we support her. … But it is the duty of every state, every authority, good authority in any case, to protect the interests of its citizens,” Kaczyński said.
Kaczyński said Poland was ready to start talks with Ukraine to settle the grain issue and the Ukrainian side had already been notified of the decisions of the Polish government.