By KYIV. Sept 15 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has expressed hope that, following Bulgaria, the decision not to extend the ban on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products will be made by the governments of Slovakia and Romania.
“I would like to thank the Bulgarian government for the decision not to extend [the ban on the import of Ukrainian grain]. They support the decision to lift the blockade at the level of the European Commission. We work closely with the governments of Romania and Slovakia. There is pressure on them. At the moment, they have not made a decision and are inclined to support us,” Shmyhal said at a press conference in Kyiv.
The Prime Minister also expressed hope that countries that have introduced a ban on grain imports from Ukraine will not make decisions on unilateral bans if the European Commission decides to lift it.
At the same time, he said that the Romanian side will contribute to almost doubling transit supplies from Ukraine.
“I would like to thank Poland regarding the transit of our products and military transit. We receive a large flow of weapons through Poland. I would like to thank Romania for the enormous efforts it has made in expanding our transit and expressed hope that transit will increase from 2.5 million tonnes to 4.5 million tonnes per month. I think we will do even more with the help of the European Commission. All these steps give us optimism that Ukrainian transit will continue and grow,” Shmyhal said.
He said that Ukraine is grateful for everything that partners do in hosting Ukrainian women and children, families, for humanitarian and financial assistance.
“We never intended to harm the European Union, in particular, Poland or any other neighboring country. If we see that Ukraine floods any of the neighboring markets with agricultural products, and this happens uncontrollably or violates the rights or balance of agricultural producers in the countries – neighbors, then we are ready for negotiations. However, this, firstly, did not happen. Secondly, this is impossible. Ukraine has now returned to its traditional markets. We are interested in transit. We are interested in not being persecuted, not being subject to conditions where there is no need for it,” the Prime Minister said.
He associated the popularization of narratives regarding support for the extension of imports of Ukrainian agricultural products in Poland with the pre-election period.
“It’s pre-election period in Poland. I call this political populism, when certain political forces and politicians use this period and manipulative statistical data to gain electoral advantages. Ukraine is definitely not in a state right now to give someone the opportunity to grow politically out of our misfortune and our grief,” Shmyhal said.
