Poland vows to protect Ukraine aid deliveries, hold talks on border row

WARSAW - Poland's prime minister said on the Polish and Ukrainian governments would meet in Warsaw on March 28, but did not accept a request by Ukraine's president for urgent talks on

border blockades by Polish farmers.

President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Feb 21 for Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Polish President Andrzej Duda and European Union officials to come to the Ukrainian-Polish border to discuss the protests by the farmers, who are angry over what they say is unfair competition from cheaper Ukrainian imports.

Mr Zelensky made clear he wanted talks before the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb 24.

"I have agreed with the prime minister of Ukraine for a meeting between the two governments, which will take place in Warsaw on March 28, and I hope that by then technical talks will lead to a fruitful meeting," Mr Tusk told a press conference.

Asked by a reporter whether this meant he was not going to the border for talks, Mr Tusk said he believed he had made himself clear. He offered no direct comment on Mr Zelensky's proposal.

Mr Tusk also reiterated his support for Kyiv's war effort and said Poland would include border crossings with Ukraine and certain sections of roads on a list of critical infrastructure to "ensure a 100 per cent guarantee that military aid... reaches the Ukrainian side without delays".

Ukraine did not immediately comment on Mr Tusk's remarks about the March meeting, but its foreign minister, Mr Dmytro Kuleba, later announced he had held talks with Polish officials in Warsaw on Feb 22.

"Both governments are aiming to resolve problematic issues," Mr Kuleba said on the social media platform X, where he also thanked Mr Tusk for his efforts to ensure unhindered deliveries of military aid to Ukraine.

Separately, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov told Ukrainska Pravda that Kyiv was ready for "any format" of talks to help end the border blockades.

Balancing act

Polish farmers have broad public support for their protests over high costs, cheap food imports and EU climate policies. This leaves Mr Tusk with a difficult balancing act as he tries to maintain Warsaw's staunch support for Kyiv in its fight against Russian invaders while addressing the farmers' grievances.

Kyiv has said the farmer protests, which have included repeated blockades of border crossings with Ukraine, are damaging its fight to repel Russia.

Farmers continued to demonstrate across Poland on Feb 22 but on a smaller scale than on Feb 20.

Mr Adrian Wawrzyniak, a spokesman for the Solidarity farmers' union, said protesters were blocking three crossings with Ukraine although some trucks were being let through. He also said a bridge linking Poland to the Czech Republic was being blocked, as were several roads around the country.

Farmers from the Czech Republic and other central European countries also protested on Feb 22 along Czech borders, blocking some crossings as they demanded changes to EU policies. AFP