Volodymyr Zelenskyi on Tuesday in Kyiv asked Ursula von der Leyen to lift restrictions on the import of grain from Ukraine, measures that he called “unacceptable” and “brutal”.

Late last month, the European Commission allowed Ukraine’s neighbors – Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Bulgaria – for a limited period to allow only the transit of Ukrainian grain, not imports, after they complained that Ukrainian grain was flooding their markets and affects local producers.

Precautionary measures taken by the European Commission concern wheat, corn, rape and sunflower, but may be extended to other products as well, which caused dissatisfaction in Ukraine.

“Any restrictions on our exports are absolutely unacceptable now, because they strengthen the capabilities of the Russian aggressor,” Zelenskyy said, calling on Brussels to “remove them as soon as possible,” calling them “tough, even brutal protectionist measures.”

“In wartime (they) can only disappoint,” he said, referring to the five countries in question – Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania, according to AFP.

For several weeks, between Kyiv, on the one hand, and these states, on the other, Brussels is acting as a mediator, and the tone is rising.

Chief CE: The situation is difficult

In May 2022, the EU suspended customs duties on Ukrainian products for a year and organized itself to allow Kyiv to export its grain as the Russian invasion crippled the usual Black Sea routes.

Consequence: neighboring EU countries have seen a significant increase in receipts from Ukraine, leading to oversaturation of grain elevators due to lack of proper logistics and falling prices, destabilizing local farmers.

Poland, followed by other European countries, unilaterally banned grain and other agricultural products from Ukraine in mid-April, saying it wanted to protect its farmers.

Brussels recognized this situation as “unacceptable” in the context of a full-scale war in Ukraine.

Despite these tensions, at the end of April the European Commission reached an agreement between all parties involved to guarantee the transit of Ukrainian grain, especially to third countries, a key moment for Kyiv, which wants to be able to continue exporting its products.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed with Zelenskyi that the situation is “difficult”.

“The first priority is for grain transit to take place transparently and at the lowest possible price,” she said.

“This requires very close cooperation between the various stakeholders,” von der Leyen continued, announcing the creation of a “coordination platform”, according to AFP.

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