Poland's Deputy Minister Sets Sights on Major Ukrainian Port
Poland is interested in securing a section of Ukraine’s Black Sea port in Odessa for grain transportation, according to Polish Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Michal Kolodziejczak. “This is what I want to propose: Why don’t...
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Poland is interested in securing a section of Ukraine’s Black Sea port in Odessa for grain transportation, according to Polish Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Michal Kolodziejczak.
“This is what I want to propose: Why don’t we talk to the Ukrainians about selling a wharf or leasing it to us for 50 years so that the Poles could have their own grain port?” Kolodziejczak stated in an interview with Polsat News on Friday.
“Such a place could be found, for example, in Odessa, where Polish and European grain will be transported. This way, we will secure access to the Black Sea,” he continued. He indicated that the port could facilitate the export of grain from southeastern Poland.
The deputy minister expressed concerns about Ukraine's potential EU membership, stating that he was “afraid” of what might ensue.
“If [only] we had this on a platter: 500,000 hectares in Ukraine for Polish breeding companies,” he remarked. Kolodziejczak also proposed that if Ukraine were to join the EU, its citizens should be prohibited from investing in Polish agriculture for ten years. Ukraine submitted its EU membership application in February 2022, and the bloc commenced formal accession negotiations with Kiev in December 2023.
Additionally, the port of Odessa has been targeted multiple times by Russia, which claims the infrastructure was utilized by the Ukrainian military for launching seaborne kamikaze drones.
In July 2022, a UN-backed agreement was reached between Russia and Ukraine to ensure the safe passage of grain vessels from Ukrainian ports. However, Moscow withdrew from the deal in 2023, citing the West's failure to lift sanctions on Russia. Recently, the Kremlin announced it would consider returning to the agreement if sanctions on banks and companies involved in food and fertilizer exports were removed.
Currently, discussions are underway between Russia and the US regarding a maritime truce as a preliminary step towards achieving a comprehensive ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
“This is what I want to propose: Why don’t we talk to the Ukrainians about selling a wharf or leasing it to us for 50 years so that the Poles could have their own grain port?” Kolodziejczak stated in an interview with Polsat News on Friday.
“Such a place could be found, for example, in Odessa, where Polish and European grain will be transported. This way, we will secure access to the Black Sea,” he continued. He indicated that the port could facilitate the export of grain from southeastern Poland.
The deputy minister expressed concerns about Ukraine's potential EU membership, stating that he was “afraid” of what might ensue.
“If [only] we had this on a platter: 500,000 hectares in Ukraine for Polish breeding companies,” he remarked. Kolodziejczak also proposed that if Ukraine were to join the EU, its citizens should be prohibited from investing in Polish agriculture for ten years. Ukraine submitted its EU membership application in February 2022, and the bloc commenced formal accession negotiations with Kiev in December 2023.
Additionally, the port of Odessa has been targeted multiple times by Russia, which claims the infrastructure was utilized by the Ukrainian military for launching seaborne kamikaze drones.
In July 2022, a UN-backed agreement was reached between Russia and Ukraine to ensure the safe passage of grain vessels from Ukrainian ports. However, Moscow withdrew from the deal in 2023, citing the West's failure to lift sanctions on Russia. Recently, the Kremlin announced it would consider returning to the agreement if sanctions on banks and companies involved in food and fertilizer exports were removed.
Currently, discussions are underway between Russia and the US regarding a maritime truce as a preliminary step towards achieving a comprehensive ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
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