Poland and Romania Refused to Help Ukraine Export Grain – Politico

Ukraine has appealed to its neighboring countries for help in expanding the transit of agricultural products amid the blockade of Black Sea ports. However, Poland and Romania rejected this request, citing the need to protect their own agricultural interests and limited infrastructure capacity.

During a meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels, Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian Policy Taras Vysotsky stated that the export situation is extremely critical. Due to the lack of markets, harvested grain and oilseeds are piling up within the country, and farmers are left without the funds to plant winter crops. According to him, if the problem persists until spring, it could lead to a 35–40% reduction in planted acreage next year.

The Romanian Ministry of Agriculture attributed the refusal to the congestion of its own ports and transport routes due to transit traffic and low water levels on the Danube, emphasizing that the interests of local farmers remain a priority. For its part, Poland’s Ministry of Infrastructure also stated that it does not plan any measures to increase the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products.

Politico reports this.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadepuhl, following talks at the Vatican, called for increased international pressure on Russia to end the blockade of Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea. The diplomat emphasized that time is running out and famine is looming worldwide, and that the grain could spoil before it even reaches buyers.

India has proposed its own plan for the first time to help resolve the situation in the Black Sea. According to Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, Ukraine currently has four proposals from international partners—India, Turkey, Egypt, and the United States. Kyiv is ready for an energy and Black Sea truce, but wants these two tracks to be linked.