Poland and Romania decline Ukraine's request to expand grain transit, Politico reports
In short
Ukraine asked the European Union to increase the volume of Ukrainian grain moved across Europe, and Poland and Romania refused, citing the protection of their own farmers, according to Politico. Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Taras Vysotsky made the request in Brussels this week, also seeking €1.1 billion to compensate for higher costs. The Romanian Agriculture Ministry said care for its own farmers remains a priority, and Poland's Infrastructure Ministry said Warsaw does not plan changes to increase transit of Ukrainian agricultural products.
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Ukraine asked the European Union to increase the volume of Ukrainian grain transported across Europe, and Poland and Romania declined the request, citing the protection of their own farmers, according to Politico. [ 1 , 2 ]
Ukraine's Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Taras Vysotsky, visited Brussels this week and asked for assistance with transit as well as €1.1 billion to compensate for increased costs, Kommersant reported, citing Politico. The Romanian Agriculture Ministry told Politico that “care for our own farmers remains a priority”, while Poland's Infrastructure Ministry told the publication that Warsaw “does not plan to make any changes aimed at increasing transit of Ukrainian agricultural products”. [ 2 ]
According to Politico, Romanian ports are overloaded, partly because of the shallowing of the Danube. Kommersant reported that expanding Ukrainian grain shipments through Poland would require not only a political decision but also large infrastructure investments; in 2023 the Polish side estimated the necessary investment at €1 billion, of which €500 million was to go to expanding terminals at key border crossings and improving railway infrastructure in Przemyśl. [ 2 ]
Land corridors became more important after restrictions on the operation of Ukrainian ports, but their expansion put pressure on the markets of transit countries: in 2023, falling prices and losses for farmers in Poland and Romania were reported as a result of the inflow of Ukrainian agricultural products. Kommersant reported that the capacity of the routes is limited not only by equipment but also by the willingness of countries to accept additional volumes. [ 2 ]
Romania remains an important link because of the port of Constanța and the Danube ports, according to Kommersant. In 2023 Bucharest reported investments in this infrastructure and plans to increase the transport of Ukrainian grain through the country from 2 million to 4 million tonnes, and meeting Ukrainian export plans required keeping existing land routes in operation and restoring closed ones through Europe, the report said. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The refusal keeps one of Ukraine's main overland export channels at its current capacity, at a time when land corridors matter more because Ukrainian seaports have been restricted. For Poland and Romania, the decision reflects domestic pressure from farmers who, the documents say, saw falling prices and losses when Ukrainian agricultural products flowed through in 2023. Romania remains a key route through the ports of Constanța and the Danube, so any change in its stance would shape how much grain reaches world markets.
Key facts
- Ukraine asked the European Union to increase the volumes of Ukrainian grain transported across Europe; Poland and Romania refused, citing protection of their own farmers, according to Politico. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotsky visited Brussels this week and asked for help with transit and €1.1 billion to compensate for increased costs. [ 2 ]
- Romania's Agriculture Ministry told Politico that “care for our own farmers remains a priority”. [ 2 ]
- Poland's Infrastructure Ministry told Politico that Warsaw “does not plan to make any changes aimed at increasing transit of Ukrainian agricultural products”. [ 2 ]
- According to Politico, Romanian ports are overloaded, partly because of the shallowing of the Danube. [ 2 ]
- In 2023 Poland estimated the investment needed to expand Ukrainian grain shipments through the country at €1 billion, of which €500 million was to go to terminals at key border crossings and railway infrastructure in Przemyśl. [ 2 ]
- In 2023, falling prices and losses for farmers in Poland and Romania were reported after an inflow of Ukrainian agricultural products. [ 2 ]
- In 2023 Bucharest reported investments in its port infrastructure and plans to increase Ukrainian grain transport through Romania from 2 million to 4 million tonnes. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The substance of both the request and the refusals rests on Politico's reporting, which both outlets cite. Neither document cites a Polish, Romanian, Ukrainian or EU statement or document issued directly to the outlets.
- The exact date of Minister Taras Vysotsky's visit to Brussels is not given. Kommersant describes the visit only as taking place this week.
- The status of the €1.1 billion compensation request is not stated. Only the request is reported; no EU response is given.
- Whether the EU or Ukraine responded to the refusals, and whether further talks are planned, is not stated. The documents stop at the refusal and give no follow-up.