Since Russia withdrew from the grain agreement with Ukraine, the alternative route via the EU has come back into the picture. In this regard, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky describes any extension of import restrictions in individual EU countries as “absolutely unacceptable and downright anti-European”.
As reported, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia have agreed exemptions with the European Commission. These include import restrictions on agricultural products from Ukraine. The affected states are pushing for an extension of import restrictions, which will run until mid-September. Zelenskyj now said he hoped that “the European side would fulfill their obligations”.
Farmers from neighboring EU countries had complained about falling prices and market disruptions and had to protect themselves against cheap imports. As a result of the Russian offensive war, Ukraine can export less agricultural products by sea and uses the land route through the EU. Although the agricultural goods should actually be exported to other countries in Africa, for example, they often remain in neighboring Ukrainian countries, where they cause full silos and sharply falling producer prices.
Baltic states offer their ports
Lithuania on Monday urged the EU to use ports in the three Baltic states to export Ukrainian grain. In a letter to the European Commission, three Lithuanian ministers called the Baltic ports a “reliable alternative for further transport of Ukrainian products”. In the letter, seen by the AFP news agency, the ministers estimated that the Baltic countries could help transport 25 million tons of grain annually.
Source: Krone
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