Poland, Hungary and Slovakia ban Ukrainian food imports

Vienna/Warsaw – After Russia attacked Ukraine, European countries supported Ukraine. After imposing sanctions on Russia, European countries took the initiative to provide financial and arms support to Ukraine and to accept Ukrainian refugees. Some European leaders even claimed that the battle Ukraine is fighting is Europe’s battle. But now, Ukraine’s support from Europe is slowly becoming opposition and resentment. Europe’s leading countries have imposed restrictions on food imported from Ukraine.

Last month, farmers in Poland, Bulgaria and Romania started protests over Ukrainian grain imports. Farmers in these countries alleged that the European leaders were harming local farmers by bringing food grains from Ukraine to the market when there were stocks of food grains in European countries. As the farmers’ agitation intensified, these countries wrote a letter to the European Union requesting to block the import of Ukrainian food grains.

However, European countries have become aggressive as the EU ignored the said request. In the last four days, three European countries have decided to ban food from Ukraine. It includes Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. Poland and Slovakia are considered to be the leading countries in the group supporting Ukraine. But despite this, they have refused to compromise by banning Ukraine’s food imports.

Moreover, Bulgaria has also signalled a ban on Ukrainian food following these three countries. The European Union, however, has criticized the decision of its member countries. EU officials said that the member countries could not block the movement of food grains by taking such a decision. The Ukrainian government has also criticized Poland’s decision and reminded them of the agreements.

Furthermore, the European economy has been weakened by aid to Ukraine, and the general public is suffering the consequences. As a result, it is becoming increasingly apparent from a series of events that the impact is starting to be felt in these countries. Protests were also held by groups opposing the Ukraine war in some European countries last month.

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