Polish farmers have announced that on February 20 they will block all checkpoints on the border with Ukraine, but there is still time to avoid this. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olga Stefanishyna.


Commenting on the situation with the scattered Ukrainian grain on the Polish-Ukrainian border, Stefanishyna emphasized that Ukraine has been determining the terms of trade between the countries only at the level of the European Union, respecting the rules.


According to the Vice Prime Minister, these rules must be observed by all parties.


"The Association Agreement provides the entire arsenal of tools that can be used to resolve these issues," she added.


According to Stefanishyna, the Ukrainian side is determined to maintain a direct dialogue with its Polish partners to resolve the issue.


She also said that meetings with the Polish leadership at the highest level have already taken place.


"We clearly understand that these protests have little economic value. The European Commission has confirmed that there is no threat to the market, and the new decision to extend trade preferences for Ukraine contains clear safeguards against excessive imports that could threaten the internal market of the EU and individual member states," the Vice Prime Minister explained.


Moreover, Stefanishyna noted that Ukraine has made the biggest step in unblocking this issue.


"We have unblocked the Black Sea. Therefore, in these conditions, this rhetoric is very sad, not to mention the emotional component that grain has a sacred meaning for Ukrainians, just like matzah for Jews," she explained.