Polish PM Promises to Persuade Hauliers Not to Block Border with Ukraine

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said that he will be persuading Polish hauliers not to use the blockade of the Ukrainian border as a method of protecting their interests.

"My government and I personally will do everything, whether they block the border or not, to effectively protect their interests in this unequal competition with Ukrainian hauliers today," Tusk said, as reported by wnp.pl with reference to PAP news agency.

Tusk said that the blockade, especially in the context of increased bombardments and intensified operations on the front line by Russia, will not make this task and negotiations easier.

"I will be more effective in defending Polish hauliers when there is no blockade... Our arguments will be better heard when Poland is not the country that is blocking the border," Tusk said.

He also reiterated that he understands the interests of Polish hauliers and farmers and pointed out that the blockade by farmers had been suspended after the visit by the Minister of Agriculture.

"I have to look into the reasons why... some farmers have decided to return to the border blockade," Tusk said, adding that he would like to find out why "this trust was so short-lived".

The day before, Polish farmers from the Oszukana Wieś (Deceived Village) organisation announced the resumption of the blockade of the Medyka-Shehyni checkpoint on the border with Ukraine.

Earlier, Polish Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski visited Medyka and stated that the farmers' demands would be met, but Roman Kondrów, the leader of the organisation, said he had not received a written assurance.

Previously, the Polish Prime Minister said that the Polish government was approaching the possibility of ending the blockade of several border crossings with Ukraine by hauliers.

The blockade by Polish hauliers has been going on since 6 November. On Monday, 18 December, they resumed the blockade of the Dorohusk-Yahodyn checkpoint after it was interrupted due to a ban by local authorities.