The Polish government has decided to ban the import of grain and other food from Ukraine to protect its agricultural sector, the leader of the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) Jaroslav Kaczynski said.
Large quantities of Ukrainian grain, which is cheaper than that produced in the European Union, ended up staying in central European states amid logistical problems, affecting prices and sales for local farmers.
This created a political problem for PiS in an election year, reports Reuters.
"The government has decided on a decree that prohibits the entry and import of grain into Poland, as well as dozens of other types of food (from Ukraine)," Kaczynski said during the convention of the PiS party.
The list of products will be included in the government decree, and those goods include everything "from cereals to honey products, very, very many things", Kačinjski added.
"We are and remain unchanged friends and allies of Ukraine. We will support it and we do support it... But it is the duty of every state, every government, good authority in any case, to protect the interests of its citizens," Kaczynski said.
Kaczynski said that Poland is ready to start negotiations with Ukraine to resolve the grain issue, and the Ukrainian side has already been informed of the Polish government's decisions.
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