Polish farmers will step up their protests on the border with Ukraine on Tuesday, blocking almost all traffic in what they say is an attempt to save their livelihoods, but which Kiev says is harming the war effort, Reuters and Agerpres reported.
Farmers across Europe are demonstrating against restrictions imposed by EU measures to combat climate change, as well as against rising costs and what they say is unfair competition from abroad, particularly from Ukraine.
There will be a “total blockade of all traffic at border crossings,” said Adrian Wawzyniak, spokesman for the farmers’ union Solidaritatea. Wawzyniak said that while military aid would be allowed, passenger traffic would be blocked, not just trucks.
He added that there will be blockages in ports and highways. Kyiv appreciates that its agricultural exports through Eastern Europe have not affected EU markets. As outrage grows over a series of protests by farmers and truckers in Poland, Ukrainian truckers say they have planned an ongoing peaceful protest at three crossings already blocked by Polish farmers.
Polish farmers say they will block the border until the middle of next month
In a comment to Ukrinform, their representative said that they will control movement at checkpoints, preventing Polish trucks from bypassing the general queue. The protest will last until March 15.
Ukraine says the blockade affects its defense capabilities and helps Russia achieve its goals.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi said on Monday that the situation at the border demonstrates “the erosion of solidarity every day.” He added that only 5% of Ukrainian agricultural exports passed through the border with Poland, estimating that in this case it is more about politics than grain.
“We need joint solutions, rational solutions to solve this situation. Decisions made by us and the Poles, first of all, and by all those in Europe who are not indifferent to the fate of Europe,” he added.
The current protest of Polish farmers began on February 9.
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Source: Hot News
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