Ukraine was once considered the breadbasket of Europe, but its agricultural sector is now struggling due to the conflict with Russia, which has led to the blockade of many Black Sea export ports and the destruction of arable land by landmines. Ukraine has attempted to export grain to Europe by land but has faced opposition in neighboring countries, where many farmers have complained to their governments about unfair competition for their produce.
Polish farmers protested with banners reading "Stop destroying Polish agriculture" at the Dorohusk border crossing on February 9.
Last week, Polish farmers protested at the border, using trailers to block roads at three border crossings with Ukraine to hinder the import of cheap grain from their neighbor. According to AFP, some Ukrainian grain trucks, after entering the EU, had their doors pried open, causing the grain to spill out.
On February 12, the Ukrainian Ministry of Agriculture condemned the deliberate acts of sabotage by Polish protesters and called on local authorities to quickly punish the perpetrators.
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"For two years, Ukrainian farmers have worked under constant enemy fire and suffered enormous losses. They harvested this grain with extreme difficulty and sometimes at the cost of their lives," said the Ukrainian Ministry of Agriculture. Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Economy Taras Kachka argued that a lack of response from the Polish authorities would lead to xenophobia and political violence.
Polish police confirmed on February 12th that they had inspected the scene of the vandalism and questioned witnesses before submitting evidence to the public prosecutor's office for consideration. Agnieszka Kepka, spokesperson for the district prosecutor's office in Lublin, said the spilled grain was likely unusable and that the agency had opened an investigation into customs security breaches and property damage.
A Ukrainian grain truck near the Dorohusk border crossing in November 2023.
The domestic farmers' protests have created a dilemma for the government of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has sought to improve relations with Ukraine since taking power last year.
Speaking to the press ahead of a dialogue with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on February 12, Tusk promised to find a common solution to the food security issue but also noted the interests of Polish farmers. "It's hard to find a politician in Europe who supports Ukraine more strongly than I do. But we also need to take into account the food security interests of Poland and Europe," said Tusk, the former President of the European Council.
Ukrainian agricultural products spilled from a truck onto the road in Poland.
The day before, Tusk affirmed that there would be no change in Poland's policy of assisting Ukraine in its fight against Russian forces. However, he stressed that he would protect Polish farmers and truck drivers from unfair competition.
The leader warned that if the complaints of the Polish business community are not addressed, anti-Ukraine sentiment could escalate.
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