Poland finalizes talks with Lithuania to facilitate transit of Ukrainian grain, – Minister Telus

It is proposed to move control of Ukrainian grain to the ports of Lithuania, and later, probably, to Germany. This was stated by Polish Agriculture Minister Robert Telus after talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Mykola Solsky.

“We raised the issue of transit to help (Ukraine – Ed.). We are in the final stages of reaching an agreement with Lithuania to transfer this control from the Ukrainian-Polish border to Lithuanian ports. This check will lead to the fact that the grain will leave the EU,” the minister said.

Telus added that the negotiations between Warsaw and Vilnius on this matter “are in the final stretch, with technical issues to be resolved.” According to him, a meeting with the Lithuanian side will be held early next week to discuss the transit of Ukrainian grain through Poland to Lithuania.

According to the Polish minister, Solsky also suggested that such control should be transferred to Germany, so that the checks would take place in German ports rather than at the Ukrainian-Polish border.

“I promised that we would consider this issue, we need to discuss it with the relevant control services. If there is such a legal possibility and a guarantee that this grain will not return to Poland, we will go in the direction to help Ukraine,” Telus said.

The parties also discussed the possibility of lifting the embargo on the export of Ukrainian grain to the Polish market and introducing so-called licensing.

“The Ukrainian side said that if Poland declares that it does not need these grains by the end of the year, it will not issue licenses. We will consider this proposal. But at first glance, it seems to be a good proposal,” Telus said, adding that for Warsaw to agree to such a decision, appropriate regulations need to be developed in Poland.

“It is Poland that will decide how long Ukrainian grain will not enter the Polish market,” he said.

The minister emphasized that appropriate mechanisms for exporting Ukrainian agricultural products should be prepared for the future with an eye to Ukraine’s future membership in the EU.

Tags: Ukraine, export, grain, Poland, Lithuania