Polish farmers declare blockade of Ukraine border
(Baonghean.vn) - Roman Kondruv, leader of the “Deceived Village”, said that it was Polish farmers who were the first to help their “Ukrainian brothers”, and now their livelihoods are being literally destroyed by cheap Ukrainian grain.
According to RT news agency on February 21, Polish farmers across the country took to the streets on February 20. They demanded that the European Union abandon the Green Deal, and above all, they wanted to stop the flow of cheap grain from Ukraine to Poland. Moreover, Polish farmers are blocking the entire border with Ukraine, demanding that all their rights be resolved.
“None of our demands have been met. The farmers will stand firm and will not back down. We are flooded with grain from Ukraine. They say that we are against Ukraine. But quite the opposite, we were the first to help our Ukrainian brothers. And today they are harming us,” Roman Kondruv, the leader of the “Deceived Village,” explained in an interview with RMF FM.
Mr Kondruv stressed that Polish farmers were extremely disappointed with the new government, and asked Prime Minister Tusk to visit border checkpoints to see how difficult the situation was, as well as find ways to ease tensions.
Kondruv complained that the volume of Polish agricultural production supplied to the domestic market was declining dramatically. "We have nowhere else to sell our grain," he complained.
On behalf of Polish farmers, Kondruv asked the European Union to help not only Ukraine, but also Polish farmers, in the Ukrainian conflict.
According to Mr. Kondruv, thousands of tons of grain are stored in Polish warehouses, and he estimates his losses at 350,000 zlotys. He also warned that Polish farmers would block cars and buses from crossing the border between the two countries.
"We will completely block all traffic at the border crossings," warned Adrian Wawrzyniak, spokesman for the Solidarity farmers' union.
Mr Wawrzyniak also said that military aid convoys would be allowed through the border but all passenger traffic would be blocked, not just trucks. He warned that farmers would likely blockade ports and highways.
This is seen as an escalation of the tense situation that has existed for some time. Previously, protests by Polish truck drivers and farmers had only blocked certain border crossings.
