The heads of government of Poland and Ukraine said on Thursday that they had taken a “step forward” towards resolving the agricultural dispute after a long-awaited meeting in Warsaw on Thursday, AFP reported.

“We are looking for good solutions for both sides in the field of agriculture, we have taken a step forward,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at a joint press conference, Agerpres reports. “We are looking for solutions that may not satisfy all parties, but which will protect the fundamental interests of Polish farmers and producers, on the one hand, and Ukrainian farmers, on the other,” he added.

Since February, Polish farmers have blocked border crossings with Ukraine to protest what they see as unfair competition from food products coming from the war-torn country, which is exempt from EU customs duties from 2022.

Warsaw is demanding restrictions on Ukrainian grain after imposing a unilateral embargo on it in 2023 in defiance of Brussels.

“Today I can say that we have certainly made progress in lifting the blockade. Our plan is being implemented. Not as fast as we would like, but we see a positive trend and dynamics,” assured the head of the Ukrainian government, Denys Shmyhal, as quoted by his government’s website. He noted that “Ukraine accepted the restrictions on the export of agricultural products proposed by the European Commission.”

Noting that “today Ukrainian grain does not enter the Polish market”, Denys Shigal noted that the Ukrainian side has implemented a system of control and export licenses for four types of grain: corn, rapeseed, sunflower and wheat. “Therefore, this is the first element of our cooperation. And this is the first step on our part,” the Ukrainian Prime Minister emphasized.

According to him, Kyiv also appealed to the European Commission to conduct an urgent review of Ukrainian legislation in the fields of agriculture and transport. According to him, the first review of the legislative framework for agriculture “will be conducted at the end of April.” At the same time, he emphasized the importance of banning the export of agricultural products from Russia and Belarus to the EU.

In his statement to the press, the head of the Polish government announced, for his part, progress in resolving the dispute over the reduction of road transport, which has been affecting relations between the two countries for months. “Currently, we are on the right track so that competition from Ukrainian carriers is not as sharp and painful as it has been for Polish carriers so far,” Tusk said.

Accusing Ukrainian colleagues of unfair competition and lowering market prices, Polish truckers blocked border crossings for months.

At the same time, on Thursday, in discussions in Warsaw with the assistance of several ministers, Donald Tusk, Denis Shmigal also touched on the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine, the restoration of the country and its European integration.

Both prime ministers signed a joint declaration on cooperation.

In the presence of the press, it was about “creating joint defense enterprises on the territory of Ukraine and Poland.”

In particular, Poland declared its readiness to cooperate in such areas as the production and modernization of helicopters, the production of 125 mm ammunition for armored forces, anti-aircraft and radar systems, as well as tank maintenance.