The European Union (EU) yesterday disagreed with the decision of Poland and Hungary, which announced the day before, to ban the import of various Ukrainian foods to protect their farmers.
“It is important to emphasize that the trade policy is the one used by the EU and therefore inconsistent actions cannot be accepted”. A spokesman for the European Commission said in a statement. “In such difficult times, it is important to coordinate and coordinate all decisions in the EU,” he said.
Due to the Russian invasion, Ukraine’s export routes through the Black Sea were closed, which forced them to look for other routes through European countries. But, due to labor problems, products have been piling up in the area, causing prices to fall. This caused unrest among Polish farmers, something that the Nationalist Law and Justice (Pis, in force) wants to avoid in an election year.
“The government decided to ban the entry, import of grain into Poland, as well as many other foodstuffs”, PiS leader, former Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, said on Saturday. Otherwise, he said, “it will cause serious problems in the agricultural sector. We must protect Polish agriculture.” The party usually does well in rural areas and there will be elections at the end of the year, Kaczynski reiterated that the election does not affect Poland’s support for Ukraine.
Poland’s Minister of Agriculture, Henryk Kowalczyk, resigned at the beginning of the month – on the day that the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, visited Poland – because the EU decided to extend the tax exemption on exports until June 2024 in Ukraine. things.
Like Poland, Hungary also decided to ban the import of agricultural products from Ukraine, until June 30. Oh The Polish government says the ban is possible due to the security aspect. Kiev regretted the decision, hoping to negotiate a solution to the problem. yesterday, Bulgaria has said it is considering restrictions.
Orthodox Easter
Russians and Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox Easter yesterday with a hundred prisoner exchanges. In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin attended mass at the Cathedral of Christ the Redeemer, presided over by Patriarch Cyril. “Over the years, his wise pastoral words helped inspire people. Today, when we face great challenges, they are very important,” he said.
Zelensky, in a video message, said that he celebrates this Easter “with unshakable faith in the irrevocability” of Russia’s victory.
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