After Ukraine sued Poland, Poland’s former Prime Minister criticised Ukraine’s trade minister for attacking Poland over a ban on Ukrainian grain.
Ukraine has filed a lawsuit against Poland, Hungary and Slovakia in connection with a unilateral ban on the export of Ukrainian grain.
The document filed on Monday evening with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is intended to start “consultations” with the three Eastern countries, according to a statement by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
Earlier, Ukrainian Trade Minister Taras Kachka announced the intention to file a lawsuit in an interview with Politico. He said it was important “to demonstrate the illegality of these bans and that the whole world should see how EU member states behave towards their trading partners.”
Former Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło criticised the form and style of Kaczka’s statements and accused him of “lecturing” Poland on what EU member states can do.
Ukrainian minister, rather than lecturing Poland, should consider what sort of ‘example to the world’ is being given by Ukraine in the way it treats a country that stood by Ukraine in its most dramatic moments. He should certainly take into account how Poles react to such words and behavior coming from Ukraine.
Poland responded to the European Commission’s refusal to extend the embargo on Ukrainian grain by unilaterally banning Ukrainian grain on its market starting from 16 September. Hungary and Slovakia followed suit.
The ban applies to wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds. Poland went along with the ban due to concerns that cheap Ukrainian grain would ruin Polish farmers.
