Trade between Ukraine, Poland should be continuous – talks of agricultural ministers, industry associations

 It is important for Ukraine that trade with Poland be continuous and that both countries receive mutual benefit, said Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitaliy Koval at a meeting with Polish Minister of Agriculture Czesław Siekiersk with the participation of Ukrainian and Polish agricultural associations.

The Ukrainian minister emphasized that horizontal dialogue, when associations talk to associations, ministries to ministries, farmers to farmers, is very important for building strong mutually beneficial partnerships.

"Poland is not just a close neighbor, but one of Ukraine's largest trading partners. Our agricultural products contain a large part of Polish components. These are mineral fertilizers, plant protection products, seeds. It is important for us that trade between our countries is continuous, and we receive mutual benefits. This is a point of synergy, where we can jointly export our products to third markets, develop cooperation. So that 1+1 is greater than two. So that we understand that we have historically strong ties that allow us to make economies stronger," the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food quoted him as saying.

According to Koval, over 10 months of 2024, Polish exports to Ukraine amounted to $5.6 billion. From Ukraine to Poland – $4.15 billion. At the same time, Ukraine exported agricultural products to Poland for $1.2 billion, and Poland to Ukraine – for $688 million.

The Minister of Agrarian Policy asked Polish farmers to remember that there is a war in Ukraine, Ukrainian farmers work in unequal conditions and the export of Ukrainian agricultural products is a matter of their survival, a matter of filling the budget of a country at war. At the same time, Ukraine respects trade rules and does not violate them.

This was the third meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of Poland and Ukraine with the participation of industry associations. The purpose of the meeting is to continue the Polish-Ukrainian dialogue on agriculture and trade in agricultural products, the Ministry of Agriculture clarified on Twitter.

The Ukrainian side called for further search for common ground that is mutually beneficial for both countries.