Ukraine to sue three EU countries and "retaliate" against Warsaw; Romania considers following in the footsteps of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia

The Ukrainian government is planning to sue Poland, Hungary and Slovakia over bans on its agricultural products. Meanwhile, Romania is considering extending its ban on Ukrainian grain imports, despite warnings from the EU.

Ukraine sắp kiện ba nước EU và 'trả đũa' Ba Lan; Romania

Poland, Hungary and Slovakia announced their own restrictions on imports of Ukrainian grain on September 15. Wheat is harvested in a field near the village of Zghurivka in the Kiev region, Ukraine. (Photo: Reuters)

This move was confirmed to the media by Ukrainian trade representative Taras Kachka on September 18.

Restrictive measures imposed by the European Union (EU) in May allowed Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia to ban the sale of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds on their domestic markets.

However, these measures still allow the above-mentioned items to be transited for export elsewhere.

On September 15, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia announced their own restrictions on imports of Ukrainian grain, after the European Commission (EC) decided not to extend the import ban in the five EU member states neighboring Ukraine.

Warsaw, Budapest and Bratislava all say they are acting in the interests of their economies and that the move by the three countries is to protect farmers from a glut of produce.

"It is important to prove that the actions of the three countries are legal and that is why on September 19, Ukraine will initiate legal proceedings," Mr. Kachka stressed.

Ukraine's trade representative warned that Kiev could also impose reciprocal measures on Poland if Warsaw does not drop additional measures.

According to Mr. Kachka, Kiev will be forced to "retaliate" against additional products and may ban the import of fruits and vegetables from Poland.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he could turn to international arbitration to decide on the restrictive measures.

* On the same day, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced that Bucharest will consider extending the ban on selling Ukrainian grain, if import demand increases.

According to Mr. Ciolacu, Romania has not received any requests to import grain from Ukraine since the EC decided not to extend the import ban.

* On the Spanish side, Agriculture Minister Luis Planas Puchades warned that the ban on Ukrainian grain by some EU member states "appears illegal".

According to Mr. Puchades, a unilateral ban by any EU member state on the import of Ukrainian grain “appears to be illegal”, however, this will depend on the EC's ruling.

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