Ukraine reacts to border closure with Poland

According to Pravda (Ukraine) on November 7, Ukraine has called on Polish transport companies to end the border blockade near the Yahodyn-Dorogusk, Krakivets-Korczowa and Rava-Ruska-Hrebenne checkpoints.

The announcement was made by Vasyl Zvarych, Ukraine's ambassador to Poland. Ambassador Zvarych called the border blockade a "painful stab in the back" for Ukraine, a country in conflict with Russia.

“The solidarity corridors between Ukraine and the EU are under threat. We call for an end to the border blockade,” Ambassador Zvarych said.

Dozens of Polish transport companies began blocking three border crossings with Ukraine on November 6. Ukrainian border guards reported difficulties with truck traffic.

Trucks from Poland queued up at the border checkpoint in Dorohusk, with most cargo movements blocked by protesters who blamed the EU's "liberalisation" rules for their slump in revenue.

The main demand of Polish carriers is the restoration of the licensing system for Ukrainian carriers operating in the EU. “We want fair competition rules to be restored,” Rafal Mekler, a co-organizer of the protest, told AFP in Dorohusk.

After the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out, the EU took unprecedented steps to support Kiev’s economy and lifted the requirement for Ukrainians to apply for such permits for a year. This summer, the EU extended the decision until June 2024.

Now Polish carriers are demanding that this privilege be abolished altogether and the old licensing system restored. Another demand from Polish companies is to tighten transport regulations under the EICMT, a certificate issued by European Transport Ministers.

Ukraine said it planned to discuss the issue not only with the Polish authorities but also with the European Commission. “As of today, the official requests from Polish carriers have not been handed over to any representatives of the Ukrainian side,” the ministry said in a statement on November 7, according to AFP.

The ministry said it understood that Polish transport companies wanted to return to a separate licensing system for Ukrainian trucks, but only learned about this “from information available in the media and social networks.”

“Given the official and reasonable position of our Polish partners, we are ready for a constructive dialogue,” the statement from the Ministry of Reconstruction of Ukraine further noted.