Poland and Romania have resisted Ukraine’s request to expand agricultural transit through their territories as Kyiv searches for alternative export routes amid the effective blockade of its Black Sea ports.
Ukraine’s agriculture minister, Taras Vysotskyi, appealed to EU governments in Brussels for more rail, road and river capacity, as well as €1.1 billion to help cover higher transport costs. He said fewer than half of Ukraine’s exports can currently leave via European land and river routes.
Romania says existing Ukrainian shipments, combined with low water levels on the Danube River, are already straining its ports and transport network, while Poland has said it does not plan to expand transit capacity.
The dispute comes as the EU considers allowing candidate countries greater access to parts of the single market before full membership, raising concerns among farmers in neighboring states about increased competition.
Ukraine has relied increasingly on land routes since Russia’s full-scale invasion disrupted Black Sea shipping.
Poland still restricts imports of several Ukrainian agricultural products, including wheat and maize.
