Polish Minister supports farmers blocking Ukrainian border
Polish Minister of Economic Development and Technology, Krzysztof Hetman, expressed his support for the farmers blocking the border with Ukraine, saying they are “protesting for a just cause” during an interview with Polish Radio Zet on Feb. 20.
“Farmers have the right to protest; they have the right to express themselves in different ways,” Hetman said.
The protesters are facing a challenging situation due to the substantial increase in the costs of agricultural production and a decline in profitability, he said.
In response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s characterization of the situation on the border as a “mockery,” Minister Hetman acknowledged the emotional strain on the head of state during a time of war. The farmers’ protest has nothing to do with politics, he said.
“This is probably not the first time that Zelenskyy has made quite harsh statements,” the minister said.
“I try to understand a person who is under enormous pressure, although I do not agree with what he says.”
Polish farmers warned on Feb. 13 that on Feb. 20 they would block all checkpoints on the border with Ukraine, as well as communication hubs and entrances to transshipment railroad stations and seaports.
Media reported on Feb. 17 that farmers from four EU countries would join the protests on the Polish-Ukrainian border.
European countries had not joined the Polish grain protests as of Feb. 19.
Polish farmers blocked a passenger train from Ukraine on the same day, Feb. 19.
The protesting farmers who are blocking the largest checkpoints on the border with Ukraine have put forward many demands, among which are: the complete refusal of duty-free trade with Ukraine and the complete closure of the Ukrainian-Polish border for trucks.
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