Duda commented on the blocking of the Ukrainian border
Date: 2024-02-21 Author: Кирило Загоруйко Categories: WORLD
Polish President Andrzej Duda said that blocking the border with Ukraine is not a political decision of the government; they cannot prohibit farmers from protesting.
In an interview with Ukrainian Radio, he said that European farmers “fear for their existence” due to the huge influx of Ukrainian agricultural products into EU markets. "This is a really difficult problem because the problem with Ukrainian food has existed from the very beginning. It started because of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Because let's remember that it is Russian aggression against Ukraine that is to blame for everything, and not someone else," - said Duda.
The Polish president assures that his country has never closed itself off from agricultural products from Ukraine. “Poland closed its domestic market for Ukrainian grain due to the crisis in this market and the sharp drop in prices for products, agricultural products, including grain, but it did not block the possibility of grain transit through Poland,” he says.
Duda notes that agricultural trade unions operate independently of the authorities, and blocking the border is not a decision of the Polish government.
“I am sorry that such situations have arisen, but, on the other hand, I also ask you to remember that Poland is a democratic country where the right to protest simply exists and it is guaranteed by the Constitution. If there is a legal protest, this protest is simply tolerated and protected.” , he noted.
When asked whether Poland’s position regarding Ukraine’s European integration has changed, the Polish president said that Ukraine has support, but its accession must be subject to certain “rules.”
"Ukraine is supported and, I hope, will be supported. Because I said that we must not allow Russia to win this war. But I hope that Ukraine's future membership in the European Union will be settled on conditions of accession that will also responsibly protect the markets European countries," Duda added.
