The President of Poland believes he must protect the EU market from Ukrainian grain.

Protection of the domestic market and the EU market is the duty of the Polish authorities, Andrzej Duda said. “We consistently support Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression. But the second thing, and our most important duty, is to stand guard over the interests of our country.” Duda also added that Poland understands that Ukraine is in a difficult situation, but Ukraine must also understand that the Polish government has obligations to its society.

In April, Poland was the first country in Eastern Europe to ban food imports from Ukraine, despite the EU’s decision to provide free access to Ukrainian products during the war. In May 2023, the European Commission banned the import of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds to Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria. The ban is valid until September 15. However, Poland insists on an extension at least until the end of 2023.