The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called on Poland to stop the chaos at the border. At the same time, the Poles scattered Ukrainian grain again.

Blocking the Polish-Ukrainian border, no matter what slogans it is accompanied by, has no justification.

On February 20, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko announced this on Facebook.

"Land borders remain important in the face of Russian aggression. The actions of Polish protesters and some radical Polish politicians undermine the Ukrainian economy and resilience to repel Russian aggression.

The border of Poland and Ukraine is also the border of the EU. It should not be held hostage by any political interests.

We also consider the aggressive attitude of the protesters towards Ukrainians and Ukrainian goods crossing the Polish-Ukrainian border unacceptable. The anti-Ukrainian slogans heard at the border confirm the politically motivated nature of the action. Its purpose is to provoke further aggravation of bilateral relations.

Instead, the protesters do not in any way mention the threats associated with the import of grain and other types of agricultural products from Russia and other countries.

We call on the Polish authorities to provide a legal assessment of the actions of the participants of the actions, to ensure that the border is unblocked and to take measures to stop anti-Ukrainian rhetoric, which is based on baseless arguments.

In the conditions of external testing, it is extremely important to maintain the level of solidarity that Ukraine and Poland have built in recent years. Ukrainians and Poles must defend good-neighbourly relations, resist any attempts to undermine mutual trust and put the security of our states under attack."

On Friday, February 16, he also noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine considers anti-Ukrainian actions in Poland unacceptable.

"The latest examples were particularly radical manifestations — the spoiling of Ukrainian grain at the border and yesterday's demonstration of farmers in Wroclaw with anti-Ukrainian slogans.

These actions, in addition to blocking the Polish-Ukrainian border, not only cause numerous losses to the Ukrainian economy, which is already suffering from Russian aggression, but also violate the principles of Ukrainian-Polish solidarity.

Ukrainians pay with their lives so that Polish and other European cities live in peace. This should not be forgotten or taken for granted.

Any attempts to weaken Ukraine's economy through radical or anti-market measures will only undermine the ability to restrain Russia's aggression and create additional threats to Poland's security and well-being.

Ukraine is deeply grateful to both the Polish authorities and Polish citizens for all their support and assistance during these two years of full-scale Russian invasion. The Ukrainian side has always advocated a constructive approach to solving issues related to the transit of Ukrainian grains and trade.

We expect that the Polish authorities will follow a similar approach, in particular, in matters of effective prevention of illegal actions against Ukrainian cargoes, appropriate response to rhetoric that harms bilateral relations.

We are convinced that any attempts to undermine the foundation of solidarity between our countries and peoples will not succeed. Ukraine is determined to strengthen relations of friendship and mutual respect with Poland, with which it shares a common European future."

Near the "Medyka" border crossing, Polish farmers blocked the railway and dumped Ukrainian grain from a freight car

On the morning of February 20, Polish farmers intensified their protests near the "Medyka-Shehyni" checkpoint. Protesters blocked the railway. And besides, they spilt grain from the freight car onto the track.

This was reported by the correspondent of Suspilne from the scene.

"This is a reaction to the influx of grain from Ukraine. It's very bad. People are desperate and can't help themselves. No one controls this: neither the Polish government, nor the Ukrainian one," says Roman Kondruv, co-organizer of the protest of Polish farmers.

According to him, protesters are spilling grain "because of emotions".

"We have no influence on people, they can't stand it and they spill. We are bankrupt because everything is brought from Ukraine without control," adds the co-organizer of the protest.

The correspondent of Suspilne added that the police arrived at the scene. So, less than half an hour later, Polish farmers unblocked the railway.

Earlier, on the NSZZ RI "Solidarność" website, it was announced that the protest will last at least until March 10.

"On February 20, as part of the 30-day general strike of farmers, we announce that all protest actions will be focused on the complete blockade of all border crossings between Poland and Ukraine," the message reads.

We will remind you that on February 11, near the border checkpoint in Dorohusk, farmers protesting nearby stopped three Ukrainian trucks and dumped grain on the road.

Either all the drivers stand, or all the drivers go: the Ukrainian carriers in response started their action on the border with Poland

On the same day, February 20, Ukrainian transporters started a peaceful action near the "Rava-Ruska-Hrebenne", "Krakivets-Korchova" and "Shehyni-Medyka" railway stations. This is a response to the blockade of checkpoints by Polish protesters.

About what is happening at one of the checkpoints - "Krakivets-Korchova" - a correspondent of Suspilne told from the scene.

The protest action started at 12:00. Drivers placed posters on trucks with inscriptions in Ukrainian and English: "Stop the blockade - let Ukrainian drivers return home", "Stop blockade at the borders", "Ukraine will lose - Poland will lose", "The blockade of Ukraine is a betrayal of European values" and others.

"What the Poles are doing has already gone beyond any limits. Today we have here the Association of International Automobile Carriers, the NGO "Ukrainian Transport Union", the NGO "International Automobile Carriers of Ukraine. The essence of our action is to stop Polish cars that drive around outside the queue and to have them stand here as ours stand in Poland," says Oleg Dubyk, head of the NGO "Ukrainian Transport Union in Lviv Oblast".

The carrier Valerii Oshovskyi joined the action.

"I joined because the Poles block the borders unfairly and even drive around queues with their cars. This makes a lot of money for them. Our drivers are very offended by this. People are getting impatient. If they defend their rights, let them do it with dignity and fairly, and do not discriminate between countries and people. We will never forget this," the driver says.

The head of the NGO "Ukrainian Transport Union in the Lviv region notes that Polish trucks will be allowed into the territory of Ukraine with the same delay as Poles allow Ukrainian ones.

As Volodymyr Mikhalevich, the head of the NGO "International Automobile Carriers of Ukraine" told on the air "Suspilne.Sprotyv", the peaceful action near the three international checkpoints "Rava-Ruska", "Krakivets" and "Shehyni" will last from February 20 to March 15 or until the borders are unblocked by Polish protesters.

"Either everyone stands or everyone drives. There cannot be a situation where Ukrainian cars stand and Polish cars drive. We understand the situation and what they want. But all the demands of the Poles are either to the European Union or to their authorities, there are no claims or demands to Ukraine, so this is a very strange situation. People are very powerful, they will stand 24 hours a day," Volodymyr Mikhalevich says.

Ukrzaliznytsia emphasizes the inadmissibility of interference by Polish protesters in the work of the railway

"At the Medica freight station, Polish protesters opened the hatches of two Ukrainian freight cars containing grain. Ukrainian cargo goes to Germany in transit through Poland.

Ukrzaliznytsia strictly adheres to the ban on the import of grain cargoes to the Republic of Poland introduced in April 2023 and only transits these cargoes through the territory of the neighbouring country. All wagons at the border are checked by the control bodies of Poland, they are sealed. This makes it impossible for Ukrainian grain to enter the Polish market.

Currently, about 40 Ukrainian freight cars with agricultural products are waiting for transshipment at the mentioned station. The Polish Railways and the Embassy of Ukraine in Poland were informed about the unauthorized interference in the work of the railway.

Ukrzaliznytsia is outraged by such actions of Polish protesters and calls for an end to illegal actions. Such actions do not contribute to solving possible problems, but play into the hands of the aggressor country. Currently, the company has sent a corresponding appeal to the Polish law enforcement authorities.

According to the Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov, scattered Ukrainian grain on railway tracks in Poland is another political provocation aimed at dividing our people.

We will remind that earlier Polish protesters already blocked passenger train #119 Kyiv — Helm and tried to block two freight trains.

Passenger trains to and from the Republic of Poland are currently running on schedule".

Obstruction of Ukraine's trade with other countries is unacceptable and contradicts common Ukrainian-Polish goals, - Mykola Solskyi

Ukraine strongly condemns the forms of protest of Polish protesters, which they carry out on the Polish-Ukrainian border.

This was stated by the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, Mykola Solskyi, commenting on the situation near the "Medyka-Shehyni" checkpoint, where Polish protesters blocked the railway and spilt grain from a freight car onto the track.

"Ukraine strongly condemns such forms of protest that are currently taking place on the Polish-Ukrainian border. The corn that the Polish protesters dumped from the wagon was going to Germany. Corn from Ukraine is not exported to Poland. Obstructing Ukraine's trade with other countries of the world is unacceptable and contradicts common Ukrainian-Polish goals," Mykola Solskyi emphasized.

Oleksandr Kubrakov: The spilt Ukrainian grain on the railroad tracks in Poland is another political provocation aimed at dividing our nations

Around noon, on the tracks of the Medyka station, protesters spilled about 4 tons of grain from two grain carriages waiting to be reloaded onto the narrow gauge. These agricultural products were in transit to Germany.

"Nobody benefits from spoiled grain. Such "actions" are a loss for everyone, except for the russians, who are interested in destroying our countries and dividing civilized countries. For 2 years, Ukrainian farmers have been harvesting grain in armour vests, under missile attacks and despite the danger of mines. The Ukrainian army has literally broken through a corridor for this grain across the Black Sea, and the world has already called it the Ukrainian Corridor. Up to 90% of our exports go through the Black Sea. It is a matter of our survival. And the survival of the world, which depends on Ukrainian grain, especially in Africa and Asia. 10 years ago on the Maidan Nezalezhnosti hundreds of Ukrainians gave their lives for the right to live in a free and modern Europe. And we continue to believe that Europe is where labor is respected and partnership is valued," — commented Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration — Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.

The Polish law enforcement agencies, Polish Railways and the Embassy of Ukraine in Poland were informed about the unauthorized interference with the railway. It should be noted that all Ukrzaliznytsia cars are checked at the border by Polish regulatory authorities and sealed. This makes it impossible for Ukrainian grain to enter the Polish market.

IC UAC according to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko, Suspilne, UZ, Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Ministry of Infrastructure