Ukraine has launched legal action against Poland, Hungary and Slovakia over their unilateral bans on Ukrainian grain exports, which it considers to be a “violation of their international obligations.” The lawsuit filed on Monday evening before the World Trade Organization (WTO) is meant to launch “consultations” with the three Eastern countries, read the statement from Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
Earlier, the Ukrainian trade minister, Taras Kachka, announced the lawsuit in an interview with Politico, claiming “it was important to demonstrate these bans are illegal and that the whole world should see how EU member states behave with regard to their trading partners.” He said it was important to file the lawsuit against the three countries so that others do not follow their example.
Former Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło criticized the form and style of Kachka’s remarks. She called it “impertinent” and criticized the minister for “lecturing” Poland about what EU member states may do. She thinks it is extraordinary that he should effectively call for Poland to be made an example of and chastised for its embargo.
Writing on the X platform, the former prime minister stated that the “Ukrainian minister, rather than lecturing Poland, should consider what sort of ‘example to the world’ is being given by Ukraine in the way it treats a country that stood by Ukraine in its most dramatic moments. He should certainly take into account how Poles react to such words and behavior coming from Ukraine.”
Poland responded to the European Commission’s refusal to extend the embargo on Ukrainian grain by unilaterally banning Ukrainian grain from its market starting Sept. 16. Hungary and Slovakia have also imposed such bans.
The ban covers wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds. Poland took action over fears that a glut of cheap Ukrainian grain would destroy Poland’s agricultural market, with Polish farmers threatened with bankruptcy should their market be fully exposed to Ukrainian agricultural goods.
