Polish protesters suspend months-long blockade of Ukraine border
All Poland/Ukraine border crossings now open
Polish farmers called off remaining protest on Monday
Protesters complained of unfair competition, cheap grain
Adds details in paragraphs 8,9,18,21
By Yuliia Dysa and Anastasiia Malenko
KYIV, April 29 (Reuters) -Polish farmers called off their protest at the last border crossing with Ukraine on Monday, lifting a blockadethat has dragged on for months, soured bilateral relations and buffeted Ukraine's trade.
Polish truckers began blocking the border late last autumn, angered by what they said was Ukraine's use of a wartime easing of border restrictions to win market share. Farmers later joined their ranks, complaining about cheap Ukrainian food imports.
Polish farmers ended their blockade of the Rava-Ruska crossing on Monday morning, Ukraine's border guard spokesman said, following months of diplomacy by Kyiv.
"Fortunately, we have all directions on the border with Poland unblocked," said Andriy Demchenko, the border official, adding that trucks were crossing in both directions. Poland's border guard spokesman confirmed that comment.
Ukrainian farm minister Mykola Solsky praised what he said was "constructive work" by Poland.
Ukraine's daily average food exports by truck were up almost 20% on Monday compared with mid-April, said Taras Vysotsky, his first deputy.
Trucks carrying grain, the issue at the heart of the Polish-Ukrainian dispute, will still face checks on the Polish side, Kyiv officials said.
WILL SUSPENSION HOLD?
Ukraine's ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Zvarych, said he believed the blockades were "a thing of the past".
But Roman Kondrow, the leader of a local farmers' organisation in the region bordering Ukraine, said protests could resume if needed, Polish news agency PAP reported.
Adrian Wawrzyniak, a spokesperson for the Solidarity farmers' union, told Reuters the farmers were continuing talks with the government and planned a protest in Warsaw on May 10.
In an attempt to address the protesters' demands, Poland decided this month to pay 2.1 billion zlotys ($520.45 million) insubsidies to farmers to compensate them for low grain prices.
The protests drew sharp criticism from Ukraine during the winter when protesters spilled grain from trucks and train carriages.
Warsaw and Kyiv have been engaged for monthsin talks at different levels to try to find a solution, with Ukraine calling onthe European Union to intervene.
Kyiv says its agricultural exports via eastern Europe have not damaged EU markets, but that its trade has suffered from the protests. Ukraine has not published full data for its economic losses.
Ukraine is a major European grain producer. Talks on its agricultural sector are expected to be a central issue during its negotiations to join the EU.
($1 = 4.0350 zlotys)
Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko, Yuliia Dysa, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Tom Balmforth, Bernadette Baum, Sharon Singleton and Gareth Jones
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
