“We call on the Polish protesters to stop the blockade of the border and choose other forms of defending their rights that would not impede movement across the border,” Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Zharych said in a statement Monday. “Such methods only play into the hands of our common enemy, the Russian terrorists, and harm the interests of not only Ukraine but also Poland and the whole of Europe.”
Poland’s ministry of infrastructure said in an emailed statement: “The Minister of Infrastructure sent a letter to the members of the protest committee, urging them to lift the blockade.”
Warsaw insists that it can’t undermine an EU deal, extended to next June, that allows shippers to carry cargo between Ukraine and an EU country without additional paperwork, but doesn’t allow Ukrainian truckers to pick up and drop off loads within the EU.
“The agreement was struck by the EU so as long as it is in force, member states cannot enter into other agreements with Ukraine. In practice, this means that Poland cannot introduce a mandatory permit system with Ukraine before the expiration of the agreement,” the ministry said.
Brussels is standing by the agreement, which was also struck with Moldova.
“We support the solidarity lanes which we have created to prop up Ukraine and Moldova in their export and import activities,” Vălean said. “We are working on a dialogue with all the involved parties because I don’t think the Polish transport companies will have much to worry about the competition coming from Ukraine.”
