Bulgaria won’t prolong restrictions, Ukraine grateful
17 September 2023
2 minute learn
Ukraine stated on Thursday that any transfer by jap European states to increase restrictions on Ukrainian meals exports which can be as a consequence of expire on Sept. 15 could be unlawful and hurt frequent financial pursuits, reported Reuters.
Restrictions imposed by the European Union in Might allowed Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia to ban home gross sales of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seeds, whereas allowing transit of such cargoes for export elsewhere.
Farmers in these jap European international locations have complained of a cereal glut sending home costs crashing and blamed it on low-cost Ukrainian imports.
“We’re satisfied that any determination … that can additional prohibit Ukrainian agricultural exports won’t solely be unjustified and illegal,” international ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko wrote on Fb, but in addition hurt “the frequent financial pursuits” of Ukraine, EU Member States and the European Union as a complete.
Earlier than Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, jap European international locations weren’t among the many major importers of Ukrainian grain, however dynamics shifted after Russia enforced a de facto blockade of Ukraine’s major export route through the Black Sea.
Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania are prone to prolong the restrictions whereas Bulgaria on Thursday voted to scrap the curbs.
Gratitude to Bulgaria
Earlier on Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated he was grateful to Bulgaria for not extending restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural exports.
“Bulgaria units an instance of true solidarity,” he stated on the X social media platform.
Poland, which holds a parliamentary election on Oct. 15 and says cheaper Ukrainian grain makes home manufacturing unprofitable, has stated it won’t carry its ban even when the EU doesn’t prolong the association this week.
Slovakia’s authorities has additionally stated it can uphold the ban and Hungary seems set to do the identical.
Kyiv has stated it may search worldwide arbitration over the restrictions.
Ukraine is prone to harvest round 85 million metric tons of grain and oilseeds in 2023, not less than 50 million tons of which may doubtlessly be exported.
No matter any nationwide restrictions, Ukrainian grain transit to Baltic and Mediterranean ports can be unaffected.
