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Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky paid a go to to one in every of his nation’s closest EU allies, Poland on Wednesday (5 April), amid worries that grain from Ukraine is placing farmers and costs below strain in neighbouring nations.
Zelensky met with president Andrzej Duda and prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Warsaw, the place Zelensky and and his spouse, Olena Zelenska, have been welcomed with navy honours.
“We now have little question that your perspective, along with the bravery of the nation, has saved Ukraine,” Duda advised Zelensky.
Zelensky visited Poland at a fragile time, as Ukrainian grain has been pushing down the costs in Poland and in a number of nations within the jap flank of the EU.
Polish agriculture minister Henryk Kowalczyk resigned on Wednesday amid rising anger amongst farmers over the impression of Ukrainian imports.
In a letter signed by 5 EU nations final Friday to EU Fee president Ursula von der Leyen, the prime ministers argue that tariffs on Ukrainian agricultural imports may should be reintroduced if an inflow retains pushing down costs and no different is discovered.
The prime ministers of Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia mentioned that the dimensions of the rise of merchandise together with grains oilseeds, eggs, poultry, and sugar had been “unprecedented”.
The premiers urged the fee to purchase the excess grain from these nations for humanitarian functions, as one doable answer.
The premiers additionally known as for extra EU funds to assist farmers and for quicker improvement of transport infrastructure to assist the transport of products from Ukraine.
Ukraine, one of many world’s largest grain exporters, had its Black Sea ports largely blocked because of the Russian invasion and has been transport by way of EU member states Poland and Romania.
Nevertheless, logistical bottlenecks imply that giant quantities of Ukrainian grain have ended up in central European nations, pushing down the costs.
“Let’s help Ukraine, however let’s do it properly and, above all, let’s put the curiosity of the nation and Polish farmers within the first place,” Morawiecki mentioned because the letter was despatched.
The problem has created a headache for Poland’s ruling conservative Legislation and Justice (PiS) because it faces elections within the autumn, for the reason that occasion will get a lot of its help from rural areas.
Unwavering ally
Poland has been galvanising political and navy help for Kyiv since Russia’s invasion final February. Poland has taken in additional than 1,000,000 Ukrainian refugees over the previous 13 months of warfare.
Polish public opinion firmly helps Ukraine within the warfare with Russia: 82 % of the inhabitants issues Nato and EU nations ought to again Ukraine till it wins, in keeping with an Ipsos ballot.
Kyiv has been making ready for a counter-offensive within the subsequent weeks and months to recapture land in its east and south from Russia, and has sought navy assist from its Western allies.
EU ambassadors on Wednesday have been debating how you can finance ammunition slated for Ukraine and collectively purchase extra ammunition to resupply reducing European shares.
The EU pledged to produce a million 155-mm shells to Ukraine over the following yr. The bloc plans to spend €2bn on ammunition, partly to reimburse nations that provide Ukraine from their very own shares and to purchase new ammunition.
Poland additionally gave the inexperienced gentle for delivering 14 MiG-29 fighter jets, which began arriving in Ukraine on Monday.
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