Ban on agricultural imports: Ukraine continues talks with individual countries and EU

"We are currently holding negotiations with these countries [which banned the import of agricultural products from Ukraine]. Second, active negotiations with the European Union are underway because it is obvious that these countries cannot make unilateral decisions," Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Solskyi said during the national news telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Solskyi noted that Hungary and Slovakia did not prohibit the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products.

"We should be honest with ourselves, with the market, and with Ukrainian farmers. We are strong competitors for the European Union and for anyone in the world. On the one hand, we should be proud of this and, on the other hand, we should be ready for constant discussions that will go on as long as the markets are open," the minister added.

As reported, on April 15, 2023, Hungary and Poland imposed a temporary ban on the import of grain and other types of agricultural products from Ukraine. On April 19, 2023, the ban on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products to Slovakia will come into effect. At the same time, Poland also suspended the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products through its territory but plans to resume it from April 21.

Hungary and Slovakia did not stop transit. Bulgaria imposed a temporary ban on the import of agricultural products from Ukraine on April 19, 2023 but did not restrict transit.

Romania considers the possibility of suspending the import of agricultural products from Ukraine.

On April 17, 2023, the European Commission stated that it does not support the decision of member states to impose unilateral restrictions on the import of grain and other food products from Ukraine. On April 19, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis will hold a meeting with representatives of the five EU countries bordering Ukraine, with the participation of Ukraine itself, to discuss the import of Ukrainian agricultural products.