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Polish farmers to expand protest across entire Ukrainian border

Photo by Piotr Lapinski/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Piotr Lapinski/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Polish farmers will escalate demonstrations on the Ukraine border, shutting down nearly all traffic to preserve their livelihoods. This move is in response to European Union measures aimed at tackling climate change, as well as rising costs and what they see as unfair competition from abroad, particularly Ukraine.

According to Adrian Wawrzyniak, a spokesperson for the Solidarity farmers’ union, there will be a “total blockade of all traffic at border crossings.”

While military aid will still be allowed through, all passenger traffic, not just trucks, will be blocked. Wawrzyniak also mentioned that there would be blockades at ports and on motorways.

Kyiv claims that its agricultural exports through Eastern Europe have not harmed EU markets. In response, Ukrainian haulers have announced a round-the-clock protest at three crossings already blocked by Polish farmers.

They will control movement at the crossings, preventing Polish trucks from bypassing the general queue. The protest is planned to last until March 15.

Ukraine has stated that the blockades are affecting its defense capability and aiding Russia’s aims. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the situation at the border, stating that it demonstrates “the erosion of solidarity on a daily basis.”

Zelenskyy called for common and rational decisions to resolve the situation, involving both Ukrainian and Polish authorities, as well as everyone in Europe who is concerned about the fate of the continent.
Source: Reuters
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