The Ukrainian government has announced what Ukraine’s reaction to the EU’s extension of agricultural export restrictions after September 15 may be.

Ukraine is strongly opposed to the EU extending the ban on agricultural supplies to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania after September 15 and may take mirror measures. This was stated by the Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko at a meeting with the European Business Association (EBA).

“The president, the prime minister, and the government are all of the opinion that September 15 is the final critical date. After that, there can be no extension of these restrictions that existed for Ukraine,” she said.

According to her, the ban on exports of wheat, barley, rapeseed and sunflower seeds to these five countries is “discriminatory on the part of the closest neighbors, especially when Ukraine has an enemy at sea.”

“This looks to us like a not very friendly step, to put it bluntly. Therefore, in all negotiations, from the president to all ministries, we insist that September 15 is a critical, final date after which we see no possibility of extending these deadlines. This is discrimination against Ukraine,” emphasized Svyrydenko.

When asked what would happen if the ban was extended, the minister said that in this case Ukraine would have to consider mirror measures.

“I would not like to say out loud and believe that this is a realistic step, but we think that some mirror measures can be applied,” she said.

Tags: Hungary, Slovakia, restrictions, Ukraine, Bulgaria, grain, Romania, EU, Poland