Slovakia joins Poland and Hungary in halting grain imports from Ukraine
A worker loads grain at a terminal in Odesa Oblast, June 23, 2022 (Photo:REUTERS/Igor Tkachenko)
Slovakia will temporarily suspend grain
imports from Ukraine, following
Poland and Hungary, according to Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger’s
Facebook post on April 17.
Heger said that an ad hoc group would convene to discuss the issue and report their findings at a later date.
Poland banned grain imports from Ukraine on April 15, but expressed a willingness to resolve the issue through an intergovernmental agreement. Ukraine expressed regret over the decision, citing prior agreements between the two nations.
The following day, Hungary also announced a temporary ban on the import of grain and oilseeds, along with other agricultural products from Ukraine.
The European Commission denounced the bans as unacceptable, and, according to Reuters, representatives from EU member states will convene later this week to discuss the matter.
The Ministers of Agriculture of Ukraine and Poland, Mykola Solskyi and Robert Telus, are set to sign an agreement in Warsaw on April 17 on the transit of Ukrainian grain through Poland to third countries.
Hungary, in turn, announced that transit shipments via its territory would continue.
After a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia blocked ports and sea routes that Ukraine used to export grain to Africa and the Middle East. In response, the EU canceled duties on grain from Ukraine to facilitate its supply to global markets.
However, much of the grain has remained in Poland, resulting in a drop in prices and significant financial hardship for Polish farmers, who have protested against the situation.
We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
