Poland should permit transit of Ukrainian grain via its ports - Grain and Feed Chamber head

MOSCOW. April 16 (Interfax) - It would be appropriate for Poland to maintain the blockade on imports of Ukrainian grain, while its transit should be allowed, when the Polish ports have available transshipment capacities, Ukrainian media outlets said, citing a statement made by Polish Grain and Feed Chamber President Monika Piatkowska in an interview with the farmer.pl website.

"Today, it would be better if the blockade of grain import remains, and when it comes to transit, we could implement it to some extent and help Ukraine this way, when we have available processing capacities at the Polish ports," she said.

The Polish ports have not been loaded by 100% in the first quarter of 2024, Piatkowska said.

"We must make conclusions that our port infrastructure, as well as our railway infrastructure, is inefficient. Now is the time to expand it. We have been sleeping away in this context for the past two years. Romania has received funds from the European Union and is expanding its infrastructure, while Poland has not done so yet," she said.

Piatkowska said she is confident that Poland must show both Ukraine and the international community that it wants to help efficiently, while firmly protecting the interests of Polish farmers. These two goals need to be combined, she said.

"The sooner we come to a mutual understanding, the faster we develop mechanisms, and the less complicated the atmosphere, which could impact our wider cooperation not only with Ukraine, but also on the European arena, is," she said.