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БліцBlitz interview with an expert: Denys Marchuk on the border blockade

The blockade of Ukrainian borders by Poland and Hungary for the import and transit of Ukrainian agricultural products is caused by a number of political and economic aspects and may not be lifted so quickly. This was stated by denys Marchuk, Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Agrarian Council, said in a blitz interview.

How long will the border blockade last?

I don’t know, no one will tell you. I don’t think the Poles themselves know how long it will last, but it is certain that it will last until all the controversial issues are resolved. And can you imagine how many of them there are, in the context of the European integration of the Ukrainian agricultural sector, the further distribution of subsidies that should be available to Ukraine as well? That is, this is a heated situation.

It is also caused by many issues within the European Union in the context of reforming the agricultural sector. There are also ongoing actions there. The next farmers’ protests are scheduled for June, and this is a very big challenge facing Ukraine as well.

And in these big issues of the European Union, Ukraine is also being held hostage. When the Poles or Hungarians protest over the issues they raise with the European Commission, Ukraine is also involved. Because Ukraine is a sensitive issue. There is a war in Ukraine, and everything that concerns Ukraine is more actively reacted to. That’s why they use this method, among other things, to communicate with the EC. Not without it.

How much does Ukraine lose from the blockade?

What happened in November and December – the NBU gave this figure – is more than €1.5 billion in total exports and imports that we were unable to sell. When there were checkpoints and customs, these were the losses.

Is this for November-December last year?

Yes, that was the time when there were the biggest moments of blocking

And what about losses in general? Since the beginning of the blockade?

I don’t know.

What are the compromise ways to solve the problem and is it possible to solve it in the short term?

We, as a state, have proposed this option, technical teams are working, the process of licensing agricultural products to Poland directly, for what the Poles are rooting for, who say that we have made efforts… But in fact, there are no efforts, as proved by the decision of the European Commission, which cancelled the ban on imports, and they extended the embargo on their own. We said let’s set up a technical group between Poland and Ukraine and continue to supply certain products that you will be there to claim. We were talking about five crops – wheat, rapeseed, corn, soybeans, and sunflower seeds. And we are actually working on it now. If it is technically feasible, it will be one of the options for solving the problem.

In fact, no one will give you an answer right now, and probably the Polish side does not fully understand what they are doing and how it will all happen – spontaneously or not. And let’s not forget that this is also fuelled by Russia, the aggressor country, which is losing out in the media. But the fact that Russia imports much more products to Poland than Ukraine for some reason does not stop anyone from controlling the passage of those products that go to Poland from Russia.

So is this blockade a political moment?

It is an economic and political one. Economic because the industry needs preferences in Europe, and political because it de facto affects Ukraine’s policy and interstate relations