Ukraine’s Zelenskyy visit tightens bonds with Poland amid Russian war
PBS NewsHourNov 25, 2022
Zelenskyy Travels to Poland Amid Farmers' Dispute on Ukrainian Grain
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Image copyright: Reuters [via The Guardian]
The Facts
Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Poland on Wednesday amid a dispute among local farmers who say the lifting of tariffs on Ukrainian grain has flooded the local market, driving down the prices of Polish equivalents. Neighboring Poland has typically been one of Ukraine's staunchest backers since the war began, however, Polish farmers threatened to "spoil" Zelenskyy's visit as anger over the issue mounted.
As Zelenskyy made his way to Warsaw, Polish agriculture minister Henryk Kowalczyk resigned from his post, citing the European Commission's decision to extend duty-free imports of Ukrainian grain until June 2024. "As it is clear that this demand [to introduce tariffs] will not be met by the European Commission at this point, I decided to resign from the post of agriculture minister," he said.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Poland has been one of Ukraine's biggest backers since Russia invaded, and Zelenskyy's trip is a show of gratitude to the country — particularly as it has taken in the lion's share of Ukrainian refugees. More than 1.5M Ukrainians have registered with the Polish government since the war began, and this relationship between close-knit allies should not be overshadowed by a minor trade dispute.
Establishment-critical narrative
Despite Poland's support for Ukraine, Polish farmers are right to be angry over Zelenskyy's visit. The policies allowing Ukrainian grain to be sent to Poland without tariffs have left local farmers to bear the brunt of the financial burden and are making their livelihoods unsustainable.
