Kiev has called on Poland to punish those responsible for spilling a Ukrainian cargo of grain at the border over the weekend, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Monday.
About 160 tons of Ukrainian grain were destroyed at a Polish train station amid protests, which a senior Ukrainian official said Sunday was an act of "impunity and irresponsibility."
"Those who damaged Ukrainian grain must be found, neutralized and punished. Two friendly civilized European states are interested in that," Kubrakov said on the Ix network.
Polish farmers protesting what they say are unfair competition from Ukraine, as well as environmental regulations of the European Union, blocked border crossings with Ukraine, as well as highways, and deliberately spilled Ukrainian products from wagons.
Earlier last Sunday, grain was also spilled from trains at the border with Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that it was important for Ukraine to maintain close relations with Poland, but that Kiev was also ready to defend businesses damaged by border blockades by Polish protesters.
"Unfortunately, the blockade continues," Ukrainian Border Service spokesman Andriy Demchenko said on television.
"A total of 2.200 trucks are queuing up on Polish territory and (Polish) farmers are letting through (a total of) several vehicles per hour in both directions. Trucks coming from Ukraine are more blocked," he said.
Ukraine said the blockade had caused serious economic losses and hampered its war effort.
Farmers across Europe demonstrated for a variety of reasons, including what they say is unfair competition from abroad, especially Ukraine, following the European Union's decision in 2022 to lift tariffs on Ukrainian imports due to the Russian invasion.
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