The European Commission (EC) announced last week that it had lifted the grain ban temporarily imposed on Ukraine, despite pressures from eastern EU countries to keep it in place.
Poland and Hungary, however, have expressed major dissatisfaction with the EC move, saying that the two countries would impose “their own nationwide prohibitions on a unilateral basis.”
“We will extend this ban despite their disagreement, despite the European Commission’s disagreement,” said Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, per Euronews. “We will do it because it is in the interest of the Polish farmer.”
Additionally, the Hungarian government is moving on to a Ukrainian block, too. According to Reuters, the government decided to ban some 24 farm products coming from Ukraine, such as grain, vegetables, honey, as well as meat.
“Hungary is taking matters into its own hands to safeguard its farmers, and will maintain and expand the import ban within its national jurisdiction,” said a government spokesperson, as cited by Euronews.
“Concerns arise that an influx of cheap Ukrainian imports could overwhelm neighboring EU markets, leaving inadequate storage capacity for the upcoming autumn harvest.”
The EC said in an official statement that it is up to Kyiv to take measures to not disrupt grain markets in neighboring countries, adding that the Commission “will refrain from imposing restrictions as long as effective measures by Ukraine are in place and fully functioning.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for lifting the ban, POLITICO reported.
“This is an example of Ukraine and the EU working together in true unity and trust. When rules are followed and agreements are kept, Europe always wins,” he wrote on the X (formerly Twitter) platform.
