Representatives of the governments of Ukraine and Poland held consultations in Warsaw to resolve a number of issues within the framework of bilateral cooperation. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal spoke about the first results of the meeting on Telegram, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
Shmyhal said that during the talks, the parties “paid great attention to complex topics”. Thus, the situation at the border and trade in the agricultural sector were discussed in Warsaw.
He stressed that the Ukrainian side expects Poland to provide concrete responses to the proposed steps.
“Most of them have already been implemented. We expect the European Commission to ban the transit and export of goods from Russia and Belarus, as well as to approve our agreement on joint control at checkpoints,”
– Shmyhal said.
He expressed hope that today’s consultations will help find ways to resolve problematic issues, as strategic relations between Ukraine and Poland “imply mutual trust and openness, the ability to dialogue and compromise.”
Shmyhal stressed that a number of important issues are on the agenda for intergovernmental consultations and talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk:
Weapons for Ukraine. We need more of them, and we are working together on this. This includes, in particular, the establishment of joint defence enterprises in Ukraine and Poland.
The issue of borders. Ukraine needs “ways of solidarity”. Our governments share a common understanding of the importance of this project. As well as a common understanding that border issues need to be addressed comprehensively. Ukraine has proposed concrete steps to do so.
Trade. The issue of continued trade liberalisation is of paramount importance. This concerns the ability of Ukrainian producers to continue supplying their products to the EU without duties and tariffs.
Infrastructure development and recovery. Ukraine has submitted its proposals for the construction of the Krakowiec-Lviv-Brody-Rivne motorway. We also look forward to Poland’s participation in the reconstruction of Ukraine. We are grateful to our Polish partners for their initiative to contribute to the restoration of the Kharkiv region.
Energy. Poland is helping us stabilise the energy system by importing electricity to Ukraine. We have an exemplary case of the construction of the Khmelnytskyi NPP-Rzeszów power line. This deepens the integration of the Ukrainian energy system with the European one.
European integration of Ukraine. Poland will work with us to ensure that the first intergovernmental conference between the EU and Ukraine on negotiations on our accession to the European Union takes place in the first half of this year.
Shmyhal and Prime Minister Donald Tusk also signed a joint statement. It outlined current bilateral relations and future plans.
At a joint press conference of the heads of government of Ukraine and Poland following the intergovernmental consultations in Warsaw, Shmyhal called the next round of Ukrainian-Polish governmental consultations a “constructive dialogue”.
For his part, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke of finding “good solutions for both sides.”
Border blockade
on9 February 2024, Polish farmers began a new nationwide strike and blockade of the border with Ukraine, which is scheduled to last until the end of April. It was initiated by the independent farmers’ trade union Solidarity. The main demand of the protesters is to cancel the preferential trade regime with Ukraine and to return the permit system for importing goods to Poland.
Poland has imposed an embargo on Ukrainian grain, Polish Deputy Agriculture Minister Michal Kolodziejczak said.
Ukrainians responded by blocking the border for Polish trucks.
Despite this, the EU extended the liberalisation of trade with Ukraine and Moldova until 5 June 2025, albeit with certain restrictions.